Final Posting

After almost three and a half years and 343 posts, I have decided to call it quits. I have no reason to do so but I feel it is time to move on.

I don’t think I have many regular readers; my guess is two maybe three loyal readers, so this is not a loss that will shake the world of blogging.

Seeing that this is my final posting, I might as well write a very long post. That is if I can find anything to write about.

On Movies and Songs

I enjoy watching movies but I hardly go to the cinema. I prefer to lie in bed and watch pirated DVDs. I’m not supporting the pirated DVD industry but they do serve a purpose and at a lower cost. The taxman may differ but I think economically, the industry does have its benefits. Another reason for choosing DVDs over cinema is the censorship; we sometimes are overzealous in cutting up dialogues and scenes. Most moviegoers are matured adults, let’s treat them as such.

Another reason why I don’t quite like going to the movies is because it takes a lot of effort and I am the lazy type. At home I can watch movies lying down topless in my boxers. I can pause if I need to take a pee. I can adjust the temperature. I don’t have to spend hours looking for parking and queuing for tickets and popcorn. At home I can doze off immediately after the movie ends.

I love gangster movies. The Godfather trilogy is at the top of my list followed by Pulp Fiction and Goodfellas. I’m also into comedy, especially spoofs like Naked Gun. Johnny English is my favourite partly because of Rowan Atkinson and Austin Powers is, well simply powerfully funny. Hot Fuzz and Paul are two Simon Pegg/Nick Frost movies I love; you have to understand British humour to enjoy his movies though.

I don’t really have a favourite actress although I like Anne Hathaway because she is hot. My favourite actors are in no particular order; Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia (only in Godfather 3), Jason Statham, Samuel L Jackson and Simon Pegg. Notice most of them are specialised gangster actors.

I’m a self proclaimed mat rock. I grew up listening to Iron Maiden, Twisted Sisters, Search, Lefthanded, Wings, Metallica, Guns N Roses, Van Halen and the like. My favourite songs are by the rock bands form the 70s and early 80s; Africa and Rosanna by Toto, Open Arms by Journey, I Want To Know What Love Is and Waiting for A girl Like You by Foreigner and Big Love by Fleetwood Mac. My all time favourite song is Rock Me Amadeus by Falco. Falco who? Google him up, he is probably the most popular German musician in America since Bach.

I stopped following Malay music since Search and Lefthanded retired. I do enjoy some Indonesian songs but have never actually bought any. Nowadays I listen to almost everything played on the radio.

On Love

Love is a beautiful thing. Everyone wants to love and be loved but some are confused between loving and being in love. I believe they are two different things. One can love many people but will usually be in love with only one person.

Marriage is a beautiful thing. Love for another person, of the opposite sex will naturally lead to marriage. But do we know why we are getting married? Is it because of love or because we are getting older?

Is it because of love or because the other party proposed and we don not know how to say no or not yet?

Is it because of love or because our younger siblings and cousins are all married with children?

Is it because of love or because our parents wants us to?

Is it because of love or because we pity the other party and his/her family?

These are all very damaging questions so I shall stop asking.   

Weddings are a beautiful occasion. Everyone wants the perfect wedding. People will go on a strict diet so they won’t look fat in their wedding photos. People spend truckloads of money on fresh flowers for the pelamin, designer wedding gowns, made in Indonesia wedding cards, table gifts and not to mention trays upon trays of hantaran. Why? Because they want their wedding to be the most beautiful ever. Some people however forget; a beautiful wedding is not an indication of a beautiful marriage. Ask Yusry and Erra. I want a beautiful marriage more than a beautiful wedding. I don’t care if my wedding photos suck as long as I can have beautiful family photos for the rest of my life. A beautiful marriage doesn’t mean there are no hiccups; there will be fights and disagreements but they can be sorted out and laid to rest.

I’m the type who falls in love with the brains before I fall in love with the looks. I’m not saying looks don’t matter but it is after all in the eye of the beholder. Or the beer-holder, depending on the situation. I believe we all have differing taste; a hot mama in my eyes would probably be a plain Jane in some other guys’ eyes. What attracts me to a girl is how she can engage in a conversation with me, how she can make me say “wow, I didn’t know that”! I want someone who is aware of what is going on in the world and not just in the mall or movie theatres or gossip pages. I want someone who can teach me stuff. I want someone like that because if I decide to bring her home, I want her to impress my parents. The last thing I want is for my parents to look down or have a low opinion of my chosen partner. I want my parents to be proud of her as much as I am. And also, my grandmother must like her.  That is a lot of boxes to tick.

On Politics

I am into politics, I like to talk about politics and have radical views on Malaysian politics and I somehow think I have the stomach for active, fulltime life as a politician. However, skeletons in my closet may prevent me from entering the public domain so I’ll just remain as I am now, an armchair critic. Maybe a more appropriate term would be a “keyboard critic”.

It is obvious from my writings that I am aligned to the other side. Yes, I am a PR supporter, more specifically a PAS supporter. PAS is no longer the party for ustazs, no longer seen as backward and overly focussed on the afterlife. PAS is now filled with professionals, even Dr Mahathir acknowledged that many medical doctors opt to join or support PAS.

The thing I do not like about Malaysian politics is its obsession with sexual scandals. This is a legacy of our fourth PM Mahathir. Sexual politics is also a strategy employed by UMNO when they find themselves in trouble.

I’m tired of Malaysian politics because of people like the racist Ibrahim Ali, Hassan Ali who talks about the religion but does nothing, and the sex crazed Ummi Halfida. I’m tired of Malaysian politics because UMNO thinks they own everything from the media to the EPF to the police and the judiciary. 

On Cars

Like most men, I love cars. I cannot afford most of them but I love them nonetheless. One of the things that make me angry with the government is the tax policy on cars. I hate the fact that we are still protecting Proton and Perodua after all these years. I hate the fact that I had to buy a Proton not because I wanted to but because that is all I could afford. I couldn’t afford other makes not because of my financial limitations but because the taxes imposed on the other cars makes it impossible for me (then) to afford anything other than a Proton. I’m sure all the other car lovers share the exact same sentiment.

BMWs are my favourite. The first BMW I fell in love with was the 2002, I still love it but now the 02 has to share my love with the E60 5 series, the E24 6 series, E9 coupes and the E21 3 series. I have been driving the E90 for the past four years or so but I would trade it for any of the above BMs. When I was younger, I used to like the boxy Volvos, my parents used to have the P1800 and even now, I’d pick that car over the E-Type. Their S60 was sexy back in 2001 but the second generation S60 is even sexier.

No one can say they don’t like a Ferrari. I can’t and I won’t because I really really like them. When I was studying in the UK, we used to go to the local Ferrari dealership and ogle at the cars. The mat salleh salesmen were even nice enough to let us sit in some of the cars, albeit only the cars in the used car section but hey, a Ferrari is a Ferrari.

I wish the taxes on cars will be lowered in my lifetime. I’m tired of being envious of the people in Europe who can afford to change cars of their choice as often as they choose, even if they are not earning obscene salaries. Maybe a change in government could lead to a positive change in the policy.

On Racism

I don’t know if I’m a racist but as I stand, I’m a Muslim first, a Malaysian second and a Malay third.  If Ibrahim Ali hears this, he will call for my citizenship to be revoked.

To be a Malay in Malaysia is very easy, Article 160 of the Federal Constitution says;

“Malay" means a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language, conforms to Malay custom and -

(a) was before Merdeka Day born in the Federation or in Singapore or born of parents one of whom was born in the Federation or in Singapore, or was on that day domiciled in the Federation or in Singapore; or

(b) is the issue of such a person;

Because of Article 160, the Syeds whose roots are in Arabian peninsular are considered Malays. The Mamaks who speak Tamil at home and came by boat from India are also Malays. Another new addition to the Malay fraternity is the Muslim converts; notice how Malay Ridhuan Tee is? I don’t mean to sound racist but aren’t those facts?

Let’s face it; most of us have Jawa, Bugis, Minang, Chinese, Indian, Siamese or Patani roots. Mixed marriages are very common nowadays, it is about time we cut down on the racial championing and start recognising each other as Malaysians.

On Sports

Despite being able to play many sports, I’m not good in any of them. The only person I can beat at table tennis is Lyn. My average bowling score is 238, on the Galaxy Tab. Heck; Lyn once even beat me at bowling! I’m terrible at sports but that doesn’t stop me from being a sports fan.

For someone growing up in the 1980s, Liverpool FC is the club we all want to be associated with. I’m still a fan although it hurts to be one for the past 20 years. I have been to Anfield and would love to go again. My three boys are also ardent supporters to which my dad (an MU fan) accuses me of forcing it on them.

I have a slipped disc between C5 and C6 and as a result my golf suffered. Not that I was any good at it before but after changing to left handed clubs, a drive of 200 yards is a norm. I used to play a lot of snooker, I wasn’t a hustler but most people would have to get to the brown ball to defeat me.  I still until recently played some football with the old boys. We had a couple of friendly matches last year, beating Cochrane 5-2 and losing 2-7 to a very young La Salle PJ team. I have however until now refused invitations to join my neighbours in their Friday nite futsal sessions.

Wish List

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Maybe I should change the subtitle to ‘to do list’. I am the king of procrastination so my ‘to do’ list doesn’t really mean anything. On the top of my list would be to stop smoking. I tried a few times, on one occasion it lasted for almost a year. I also want to start getting my self active in sports; an advancing age requires exercise to keep it in one piece.

And yes, I want to take Sharlyza to the Klang wet market in Jalan Meru. That would be something to blog about!

The End

So this is the end of my blogging journey. I hope I have not offended anyone with my postings. If I did, please accept my utmost sincere apologies. I also hope some of my posting gave a positive impact. Whatever it is; thank you for reading. Thank you for your comments.

Thank you

Why the West Wants a War With Iran

Rothschilds Want Iran’s Banks

By Pete Papaherakles [original article here]

February 25, 2012

Could gaining control of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CBI) be one of the main reasons that Iran is being targeted by Western and Israeli powers?

Rothchilds and 9/11

Source: http://www.iamthewitness.com/listeners/What.2.countries.DID.NOT.have.a.Rothschild.owned.Central.Bank.htm

Before 9/11 guess what 2 countries DID NOT have a Rothschild owned and started Central Bank; Afghanistan and Iraq.

World Trade Center is an act by Israel with the complicity of Britain and America, under the orders of the Rothschild. Why? These are the reasons:

Voltaire and Winston Churchill - Islam Haters

Voltaire and Churchill – Islam Haters

Haters – I’m not sure if there is such a word and to clarify, I define it as “to hate something”.

Referring to Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., in a letter to Frederick II of Prussia in December 1740, Voltaire said:

But that a camel-merchant should stir up insurrection in his village; that in league with some miserable followers he persuades them that he talks with the angel Gabriel; that he boasts of having been carried to heaven, where he received in part this unintelligible book, each page of which makes common sense shudder; that, to pay homage to this book, he delivers his country to iron and flame; that he cuts the throats of fathers and kidnaps daughters; that he gives to the defeated the choice of his religion or death: this is assuredly nothing any man can excuse, at least if he was not born a Turk, or if superstition has not extinguished all natural light in him.

[published in Oeuvres complètes de Voltaire, Vol. 7 (1869), edited by Georges Avenel, p. 105]

Valentine’s Day – Should Muslims Join the Celebrations?

All Malaysians including Muslims should be allowed to celebrate Valentine ’s Day, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said today. He was asked to comment on Islamic affairs minister Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom saying that Islamic religious authorities have launched nationwide enforcement efforts to nab Muslims celebrating Valentine’s Day today. “Why can’t it be celebrated? I disagree...it is not a form of prayer,” said the de-facto law minister. “What is wrong with Valentines’ day? People just want to express their love to one another. “How different is it from other days, where we can do the same thing?” Nazri asked. He also criticised PAS for campaigning against Valentines’ Day, saying that such efforts were plain “ridiculous”.

Last Friday, official sermons also warned Muslims against celebrating Valentine’s Day, which the federal Islamic authorities claimed was in breach of the tenets of their religion.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/whats-wrong-with-valentines-day-nazri-asks/

I strongly disagree with the Hon. Minister Nazri. Please read on to see why I think Valentine’s Day celebration is not for Muslims.

I did some research on the web (I know, don’t believe everything you read on the net but that is the quickest way) and I copied and pasted below a brief introduction on Valentine’s Day.

Travelogue #9 - Melaka

I haven’t been to Melaka for quite a while. I was there last week and the first thing I noticed was Ali Rustam’s picture plastered on each and every billboard, at every street corner and in front of every historical landmark. Let’s just say there is one Ali Rustam every 200 yards. Ali however has done quite a good job making Melaka a nice city. I was quite impressed with what I saw, apart from his picture that is. The riverside is nice; Jonker Street is full of life, both during the day and at night; they have nice attractions like the tower thingy; and that ship in front of the Stadhuys is quite impressive.

I found something interesting a few days ago; one should not take everything written on the World Wide Web as gospel but I found this new “info-rumour” to be quite intriguing; apparently someone is claiming that Melaka is not as great as it is made out to be and Muar is the real Melaka of the 15th century. This author claims that there is no proof that Melaka was the famous, important trading port our history books have been telling us all this while. He/she claims that The Royal Sampan Armada (the sampan armada??) was never found, nor was there any grave of any Sultan during the classical Malacca Period and since all Ming Emperor's names began with "Tzu" (pronounced Chu), the fairy tale of Hang Li Poh being a Ming Princess doesn't hold water. The writer concluded that Melaka was actually in Muar and the Melaka we know was just a small fishing village.

Interesting indeed.

I’m no historian but despite his/her argument having valid-ish points, I remain unconvinced. I read a few pages from chapter three written by Prof Wang Gungwu from the book “Admiral Zheng He and Southeast Asia” and it is filled with proof of the existence of Melakan sultanate and empire. Wang Gungwu is a learned professor; he cannot be making all those things up, can he?

Tome Pires, the Portuguese royal doctor stayed in Melaka for a few years after the Portuguese conquest. He wrote a book, “Suma Oriental” which was apparently well researched. I wasn’t there when he wrote it so I can’t vouch for it’s authenticity but I’m sure the good doctor did not make up the stories. Even if he did, it won’t be throughout the book and he would have been found out.

R. O. Winstedt wrote a paper titled “The Malay Founder of Medieval Malacca” which talks about the origins of Parameswara. Winstedt is a reputable expert in Malayan/Malay studies and was fundamental in preserving several works of Malay literature including “The Sejarah Melayu”. So, if he says there was a Malacca sultanate, I’ll believe him.

The person claiming Melaka is a fraud may have his/her own reasons and/or motives but pasting it on the web will not have any serious impact or carry any weight. The proper way would be via the academic route, through proper research and peer reviewed thesis.

I want to believe in Melaka's glorious past because that was one of the greatest era in Malay history. Malaysia is a very young country with very little history, no doubt we have the Lembah Bujang, Langkasuka and what not but Melaka is the most well "documented" of our past. It will break a lot of hearts (especially Ali Rustam's) if the allegation was found to be true.

Melaka has a glorious past and unless there is concrete and proper proof that it wasn't, I shall continue to believe in Mansur Syah, Hang Tuah, Tun Perak etc.

Desirable Rides

Since its invention proper in the 1890s, the car has been worshipped like no other machine ... Today we find almost impossible to live without it. We fuss over it. Talk about it proudly in pubs. We build it little houses to live in. ... In motorshows worldwide, worshippers come in tens of thousands to pay homage to new gods ... otherwise healthy young women are strewn all but naked, like sacrificial victims, across the lovingly polished machines ... (Jonathan Glancey, 2003)

Well said. Some women may find these words revolting because they don't understand and cannot appreciate the love between boys and cars. To make them understand and appreciate, one only has to replace 'cars' with handbags or shoes ...

Every decade has its own icon; it was the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing in the 1950s, the E-Type in the swinging 60s. My pick for the 70s is the Datsun 240Z and the BMW CS. The 80s saw the creation of a new class by BMW in the form of the E30 3 series. The 90s were the era of the computer aided designs where cars look almost alike but beauties like the Supra, Efini RX-7 and TVR Chimeara were still produced. Ferrari never failed to make beautiful sexy cars; the 250GTO and 275GTB of the 60s, to the Dino 246GT and 308 of the 70s to the 288GTO and 328GTB of the 80s and my personal favourite, the 355.

I may one day be able to afford a Ferrari but for now I have to settle for the realistic and attainable dream cars. The current top three in my list (in no particular order) are; the Mini Cooper, Volkswagen Scirocco (the 1.4 will do) and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10. 
A certain Ms Shaliza calls them babe magnets. She wasn't agreeable to the 'project Mini Cooper' some months ago and she was vehemently against the 'project Scirocco' a few weeks back. I wonder what she'll say to the soon to be announced 'project Evo 10'? Maybe she shouldn't know, she has been giving too much bad automobile advice lately. She was however quite supportive of the idea of me getting the Fiesta ... hmmm 

Ramblings of a Biological Malay (X-rated)

According to Pericles (Greek statesman, supporter of democracy, b. 500b.c.), just because you do not take an interest in politics, doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you. In other words, there is no escaping politics. Like it or not politics will affect our lives no matter how non-political we pretend to be. 

The Malaysian political landscape changed tremendously since the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim in 1998. I feel that historic event lowered the political entry age for most people. Maybe the pretty Nurul Izzah played a part in encouraging young Malaysians to be politically aware and active but mostly I think the advent of the internet coupled with the unique circumstances that brought to Anwar's dismissal played an equally big part. 

Anwar managed to do what Dato' Onn, Tengku Razaleigh and to a certain extent the Labour Party of the 1960s failed to do - create a viable alternative to the present ruling government. Power is dangerous in the wrong hands, more so if it is absolute and unchallenged, like what Lord Acton said, "power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely". A viable alternative is crucial for the purposes of check and balance for without check and balance, dictators flourish. Voltaire's view of the government is that it takes as much as possible from one (large) section of the population and gives to the other (chosen) section. Fahri Azzat echoes Voltaire's view and penned an interesting view on the mechanics of corruption, titled "The Mechanics of Corruption".

But is PR a viable alternative? The on-going PKR elections have shown the true colours of some party members, unprofessional attitudes of aspiring leaders and most of all showed their lack of unity. Maybe what they say about the party being all about Anwar is true? It would be sad if the party turns into a mere Anwar fan club because PKR has unearthed some very talented and dedicated  lawmakers. It would be a waste if these people are prevented from serving the people due to some petty tussle over the deputy president's post. 

DAP may have a sensible leader in Lim Guan Eng but the party may not be able to gain the full trust of the Malay/Muslim masses while PAS despite the large non-Muslim supporters wing (apparently membership is more than 20,000) still may not be able to gain the full trust of the non-Muslims. Their only option is to work together. 

Then there's PERKASA. An NGO who claims to have the powers of a king maker. An ultra racist NGO who defends every racist remark made by a Malay and makes police reports on everything else. PERKASA may think they are doing Malays a favour by fighting for their rights but I feel PERKASA is a huge liability to the Malays. Their actions will give the wrong impression of the Malays to the other races, both locally and internationally. PERKASA's Malay supremacy policies doesn't fit with how the world works. It is even against the words of Allah (Quran, 49:13). What PERKASA promotes and encourages are bigotry, racism, unfair practices, laziness and greed. PERKASA is also splitting UMNO into two factions, which Utusan Malaysia fails (refuses) to see.

What is a Malay? The biological and (Malaysian) constitutional definition of a Malay differs. In fact the ultra Malays are probably not 100% biological Malays like Mahathir, Riduan Tee and the PERKASA sec gen Syed Hassan (aren't Syed supposed to be Arabs? Rumour has it that Syeds are not allowed to buy Malay reserve land in a certain Malay state [I stand to be corrected] and we inferior Malays even address them as "Tuan" instead of the commonly used "Encik"). 

I am a Muslim first and a Malaysian second which makes me a Malay third. Before PERKASA asks me to bertaubat for being a traitor to the Malay race, let me present my case.

My rationale for having that stand is based on the fact that I cannot see myself leaving the Islamic faith. I however may, if circumstances requires me to, denounce my Malaysian citizenship. As far as being Malay, article 160(2) of the constitution may be amended and I may cease to be constitutionally defined as a Malay.

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "stupidity is not a handicap in politics". PERKASA proved him right.

Did Malaysia have a Chinese PM?

I’m of the opinion that we did. Back in 1988. When the courts dissolved the old UMNO in early 1988, our country effectively had no Prime Minister. All the UMNO Member of Parliaments became independent MPs. They were not even members of Barisan Nasional. The most senior leader was non other than Dato Dr Ling Liong Sik who was the president of the party with the most seats in the Dewan Rakyat. I read somewhere that he chaired the subsequent cabinet meeting which was not attended by any Malay minister [citation needed]. Our beloved Malaysia was for a short while ruled by a Chinese. Regardless what the constitution said, Malaysia once allowed a Chinese to be (acting) PM.

Yesterday the former (acting) PM was charged under Section 418 of the Penal Code with an alternative charge under Section 417.

According to the penal code, Section 418 concerns “Cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may be thereby caused to a person whose interest the offender is bound to protect” while Section 417 concerns “Punishment for cheating.”

Most observers are not optimistic on the outcome of the trial. Some will remind us of how Tan Sri Kasitah Gadam got off.

In another news, a bunch of yobs were let off lightly after found guilty of acts which could incite racial and religious tension. Four of those charged were discharged not amounting to an acquittal. They are free to go step on cow heads but another guy has to wait a bit longer before he can go back to stepping on cow heads because he has to serve one week in jail for stepping on that cow’s head last Ramadhan. He (his name is Eyzva Ezhar Ramly) will however only assume the one week sentence in August as he is currently in jail on another offence, rumoured to be drug related. He got his picture posted in the front pages of the local newspapers, smiling and all. I bet he is proud of his act. I just hope his parents are not.

On a similar but different note, a young DPP was dropped from the prosecuting team after allegations of her being intimate with the star witness surfaced. My question is, how could anyone fall for a guy who claims to have been sodomised and subsequently did not wash his anus for two days to preserve the evidence? I guess love is blind.

Whatever it is, let’s enjoy the show.

Another Piece of History Disappears

Pudu Jail (formerly Pudu Gaol) in Jalan Hang Tuah (formerly Shaw Road), was built and designed in 1891 and completed 1895 led by British state engineer and Director of Public Works Department, Charles Edwin Spooner at a cost of RM 15,360.90 Its design was copied from the Kandy prison in Bogambia, Africa and shaped like a butterfly or X structure.

Every morning for five years I pass Pudu Jail on my way to school. At 10 p.m. 23 June 2010, Pudu Jail is no more.

Biggest Losers

A few hours ago Portugal trounced North Korea 7 - 0. I was wrong to expect a repeat of the 1966 classic when the Koreans led the Portuguese 3-0 before succumbing to a Eusebio led fightback to lose 5 - 3. Anyway, that seven goal hammering by Ronaldo and company is not good enough to top the records. The World Cup biggest loser is El Salvador who were trashed 10 - 1 by Hungary in Espana 1982. The rest of the biggest losers are;

Zaire 0 - 9 Yugoslavia (1974)
South Korea 0 - 9 Hungary (1954)

Saudi Arabia 0 - 8 Germany (2002)
Cuba 0 - 8 Sweden (1938)

South Korea 0 - 7 Turkey (1954)
Scotland 0 - 7 Uruguay (1954)
Haiti 0 - 7 Poland (1974)

Let's hope for more goals in the coming games ... starting with Spain's game against Honduras :)

Do We Need a New Building?

There is this ‘rumour’ that the government is considering moving parliament to Putrajaya; that is, if you believe The Malaysian Insider lah.

The MI report says that the government is considering moving the Parliament to the Putrajaya administrative capital, a move which could cost up to RM800 million. However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told reporters that the Cabinet had yet to discuss the relocation. “It’s not decided yet. We will bring it to the Cabinet to be discussed,” he said. He added that the Cabinet would also look into possibly demolishing the current Parliament building. “We will look into every aspect. The Parliament is actually a heritage building so we would have to see if we could demolish it.

The minister said another option would be to refurbish the existing building, which would cost substantially less than a new construction. “We would need the RM150 million for upgrading [works], like fixing the roof and the electricity supply. while for the construction of a new Parliament [building], we might need RM800 million. So we will consider on the best proposal,” Nazri said.

This news/rumour is indeed shocking especially after we have been threatened with bankruptcy if we don’t cut down on our spending.

The current parliament building is one of the first national monuments built after independence. We shouldn’t even think of demolishing it. And what is wrong with convening our national assembly in that building? And what’s with this [bad] habit of demolishing buildings and erasing history? Who is the ‘identified’ contractor for the new parliament building? The existing building is a beautiful piece of architecture, why can’t we just maintain and preserve it for the future generations to enjoy?

Let’s not waste money la ok? We don’t need a new parliament building.

History in Pictures?

I doubt KL has any proper town planning. Or any vision in its town planning. Whoever does the planning for KL obviously enjoys tearing down history. They allowed Bok House to be torn down and Pudu Jail will soon only remain in pictures. The historic Subang airport is gone and now they want to transform the Sg Besi airport into yet another commercial area.

Do we need another commercial area?

What KL needs are parks and more parks and recreational open spaces. The KLCC park is not really a park, we should have a park like London’s Hyde Park or New York’s Central Park or Melbourne’s Royal Park.

KL needs her historical buildings to be preserved. Those buildings add character to the city. We cannot keep demolishing old buildings just to make a quick buck. If we keep this up, the Sultan Abdul Samad building will soon be torn down and replaced with a mall with residential and commercial components, a few hotels, and a couple of office towers.

Foreigners in Our Own Country

Below is an excerpt of Sheridan Mahavera’s interview with political economist Andrew Aeria. Immigration control between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah/Sarawak. Although agreed to by the decision-makers in 1963, I think these controls have served to divide us and our common imaginings of a united nation. Where in the self-respecting democratic world — apart from Malaysia — does a country have internal immigration controls that limit the rights of movement and rights of citizens to work? Such controls not only run contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (and arguably also our Federal Constitution) but also have a negative impact upon the psyche of those who travel between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah/Sarawak. They only reinforce the perception of division and difference instead of unity.

Immigration controls in Sabah/Sarawak may have been perceived as necessary back in 1963 because Sabah/Sarawak feared being overwhelmed by an influx of immigrants from Peninsular Malaysia. And yet, the statistical record suggests that more Sabahans and Sarawakians have travelled to the peninsula over the years to work and settle down there than vice versa. So, why do the state governments of Sabah/Sarawak continue maintaining immigration controls when they don’t even serve the original purpose they were enacted for?

As well, times and thinking have changed. Restricting the movement and work of Malaysian citizens in an era of globalisation is potentially suffocating for the economies of Sabah/Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole. How do you attract talent to help develop local economies if Malaysians are treated as foreigners in their own country having to renew their work permits every year or once every two years? In the meantime, retired pensioners from Europe, Australia and Japan are given 10-year Malaysia My Second-Home Visas to settle down in Sabah and Sarawak without all the immigration hassles! Further, what does this say to citizens and pensioners from Peninsular Malaysia who wishes to settle down in beautiful Sabah and Sarawak? Presently, under the immigration controls, this right to settle down in Sabah/Sarawak is not available to Peninsular Malaysians even if we have worked here for decades. Thus, immigration controls in Sabah/Sarawak no longer serve any meaningful purpose. If anything, they only serve to reinforce the mental and psychological divides in our mind instead of building up a sense of oneness and emotional belonging. It is time we removed these barriers to unity if we truly believe in the idea of 1 Malaysia. Otherwise, we perpetuate division. But obviously, the dull thinking of our politicians (and judges) have not changed much since 1963 since they maintain immigration control for reasons best known to themselves and justified by their own unfathomable logic. After all, Parliament has amended our constitution numerous times over the last 46 years to suit evolving times and situations. Thus, to claim that we cannot remove immigration controls because it is a 1963 constitutional provision is a genuinely lame excuse. Like I said earlier, times and thinking have changed.

It is indeed strange for Malaysians to have to produce their passports and apply for work permits to enter and work in another Malaysian state. If 1Malaysia means every Malaysian is equal, then this ridiculous immigration policy has to be scrapped. I once flew from Kuching to KK via Sibu. While on transit in Sibu I had to disembark, exit the arrival hall at Sibu airport and re-enter the departure hall before getting back on the plane. I don’t know what the whole process was all about but whatever it is, it’s definitely a charade!

Some of the policies, processes and procedures in this country are so ridiculous it borders stupidity. Immigration restriction between Peninsular and east Malaysian states is only one of the many examples.
What about Bumiputers quotas and discounts for house purchases? Why is that a Bumi who can afford a RM500,000 house is given a 7% discount? If the guy can afford a house costing half a million, he doesn’t deserve a discount, Bumi or not! Why is a poor Bumi earning RM2,000 per month gets a discount to buy a house while a poor non-Bumi who earns the same amount has to pay 5-7% more for his house?

How does a single race university (UiTM) help develop global competitiveness? If the students are only restricted to a single race why is the university employing other races as lecturers and professors?

The truth, they say is stranger than fiction. I say, the truth can be quite mind boggling.

Travelogue #7 – Penang

I love Penang; I have been going there since I was a kid and I still go there, almost yearly. There are literally 1001 things to do and this short piece cannot list them all.

Pulau Pinang was once called the pearl of the orient. It however has nothing to do with oysters. It has a lot to do with promoting tourism. Excuse me for being ignorant but I haven’t seen that tagline for quite a while now.

Back in 16th century, Penang was used by the Portuguese ships as a stopover for supplies of fresh water. They used to anchor at the north of the Island at a place now called Batu Feringghi.*
Penang was once part of the state of Kedah but was given to the British East India Company in 1786 by the ruler of Kedah, Sultan Abdullah (I think that’s his name) in exchange for military protection in case the Siamese and Burmese armies threatened Kedah. Penang was renamed Prince of Wales (POW) Island by Captain Francis Light because the Prince was having his birthday party when Frank landed on the Esplanade. It was not until 1867 before the name Penang was re-instated. Frank also named his settlement Georgetown, after POW’s dad, King George III. Penang was the first British possession in the Malay States and Southeast Asia.
Apparently the good captain did not seek his bosses’ approval when agreeing to the terms of handover with Sultan Abdullah. As a consequence, the Brits did nothing when Siam attacked Kedah. The Sultan became murka (pissed or angry; not to be confused with marqa, which means boyfriend/girlfriend) and assembled an army to get rid of the British. DYMM Sultan amassed his men at Seberang Perai (Province Wellesley) to retake Penang Island but was defeated by the cunning Captain Light who attacked the Kedah army during the night. In 1791, HRH Sultan Abdullah of Kedah signed a treaty with the British, officially handing over Penang to them. He got 6,000 Spanish dollars (£1500) annually as part of the deal. Apparently, the Penang State Government still pays the Sultan of Kedah RM18,000 annually (for what, I don’t know). Frankie Light was appointed the first Superintendent of Prince of Wales Island. Between 1832 and 1935, Penang was the capital of the Straits Settlements.

Penang is about 4 hours by car from KL, depending on the traffic, driving speed and how many times you stop at the R&R. During the holiday period or festive season, it could take 7-8 hours, depending on whether you use the emergency lane or not. After exiting the Juru toll plaza, follow signs to the Penang Bridge, once the longest bridge in Asia. Pay RM7 and you’re on the bridge (the outbound trip is free, or rather, factored in the inbound toll), in less than 15 minutes, you’re on the island.

Traffic in Penang is a mess. The roads are bad, the one-way system is confusing and cars are parked illegally, indiscriminately by the roadside turning 2 lanes into one. I have never tried the public transport but apparently it is also a mess. Trishaws are still used as a mode of transport in some parts of the city, mainly as joyrides for the tourists. For a beautiful view of Penang, take the road to Balik Pulau, the winding uphill road offers wonderful view of the Island. The driver however is advised to keep all eyes on the road …

Penang is famous for food; Penang char kway teow, pasembor, nasi kandar and assam laksa. My favourite nasi kandar is Line Clear on Penang Road near the Chowrasta market. Good food can also be found on Gurney** Drive, on the esplanade. The stalls operate daily from sunset till past midnight. Gurney Drive also offers a good vantage point for sunset on the island.
Things to do and see Fort Cornwallis is the largest fortress still standing in Malaysia. Nothing much to see especially if one is used to the castles and forts of Europe but a must see nonetheless.

The E&O Hotel was once of the grandest hotels in the region, alongside the Raffles in Singapore and the Strand in Rangoon. It still looks grand but I haven’t had the chance to experience its hospitality. Suites (there are no rooms) start at RM570 all the way up to “Price upon Request”. It is definitely in my list of places to stay in Penang. Maybe I’ll go there for my honeymoon.

At the foot of the hill in Ayer Itam is the famous Penang Botanical Garden, with lots of monkeys and some Sakuras. Do not attempt to be friendly with the monkeys, they can be quite fierce and could be violent. Despite that, a relaxing walk around the gardens is highly recommended. There is also a Butterfly Farm in Teluk Bahang, you can see a lot of ummm ... butterflies there, all shapes, colours and sizes.
The Penang Hill funicular railway is known for its un-reliability but a trip up the hill (also called Bukit Bendera) could be worthwhile albeit a little risky should the train break down. There are quite a lot of things to do up on the hill, jungle walks, bird watching, look at flowers and plants … Interestingly, there is an Indian Temple and Mosque built side by side on Penang Hill with no racial conflict and tension. Residents of Sec 23 Shah Alam should organise a “lawatan sambil belajar“ here.

The 200 year old Kapitan Keling Mosque along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (obviously!!), in Little India (duh!) is one of the best known mosques in Penang and was previously the state mosque of Penang.
Kek Lok Si Temple located on the hillside near Ayer Itam is the biggest Buddhist temple complex in Malaysia and is worthy of a visit. Another temple to visit is the snake temple in Bayan Lepas. Visitors are however warned not to pick up the snakes, just look at them, no touching, I doubt they’ll bite because the smoke form the incense makes them high but just don’t risk it.
Wat Chaiyamangkalaram is the largest Thai Buddhist temple in Penang which ironically sits on Burma Lane. Geddit? Thai temple on Burma ... oh nevermind!
The beach is a major attraction in Penang. All the way from Tanjong Bungah to Teluk Bahang there are picnic spots and pristine sandy beaches. Hotels of all classes and holiday apartments line the beachfront and there are many water sports to choose from. The world famous Hard Rock Hotel is located at the end of Batu Feringghi, next to the Bayview Beach Resort which hosts the annual Penang Jazz Festival. There is a night market every night in Batu Feringghi selling everything from DVDs, watches, handbags, clothes and souvenirs. Only the souvenirs are original.

I am already planning my next trip to Penang …

*Feringghi is the term used to describe the Portuguese or some say the Europeans.
**This Henry Gurney guy got his name on a street with good food as well as on a school for delinquents.

Art Deco

I’m a fan of architecture and structural design which is kind of odd for some one who can’t draw and not qualified to be an engineer due to mathematical deficiency. I’m a numerically challenged person, maths was my weakest subject; C5 in Modern Maths for SPM isn’t exactly the mark of a genius huh?

Anyway, back to architecture and structural design, my favourite is Art Deco. The term Art Deco was coined from the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs held in Paris in 1925. However, the term Art Deco was not widely used until it was popularised by art historian Bevis Hillier's 1968 book, Art Deco of the 20s and 30s. Art Deco architects often lavished their buildings with symbolic images such as stylized flowers, sunbursts, birds, machine gears and other abstract motives. The Chyrsler Building in New York City is a famous architectural example of Art Deco.

Randy Juster of decopix.com defines Art Deco as a label we now apply to a group of buildings and objects which, in their day, were simply "modern". The Depression saw the emergence of a new architecture that really was modern, the Streamline Moderne which was both a reaction to Art Deco and a reflection of austere economic times of the day.

Wikipedia describes Art Deco as a mixture of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, including Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, Art Nouveau, and Futurism. The structure of Art Deco is based on mathematical geometric shapes. It was widely considered to be an eclectic form of elegant and stylish modernism, being influenced by a variety of sources. Among them were the so-called "primitive" arts of Africa, Ancient Egypt and Aztec Mexico. It also drew on Machine Age or streamline technology such as modern aviation, electric lighting, the radio, the ocean liner and the skyscraper for inspiration.

Famous Art Deco buildings in KL are the Central Market, the Oriental Building on Jalan Melaka/Tun Perak, MMC/Mahkota College/Ekran building on Jalan Tangsi, The ODEON Cinema on Jalan Dang Wangi, the OCBC Bank branch in Jalan Hang Kasturi and if I’m not mistaken, the JB hospital. The Coronade Hotel is a new building based on Art Deco architecture.

The popularity of Art Deco sadly declined in the late 1930’s.

References:
Hauffe, Thomas (1998). Design: A Concise History (1 ed.). London: Laurence King.
Wood, Ghislaine. "Traditional Motifs". Essential Art Deco. London: VA&A Publications. p. 21.
http://www.decopix.com/New%20Site/Pages/Directory%20Pages/Intro.html
http://www.vam.ac.uk/nal/guides/art_deco/index.html
http://char.txa.cornell.edu/art/decart/artdeco/artdeco.htm
http://www.vintagemalaya.com/index.html

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said …

Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w.) final sermon was delivered on 9 Dhul-Hijjah 10 AH in the valley of Mount `Arafat, during his final Hajj. Amongst the things he said was;

• Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners.
• Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you.
• Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived.
• It is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women but they also have rights over you.
• Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.
• Worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in Zakat, perform Hajj if you can afford to.
• All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor does a black have any superiority over a white - except by piety and good action.

The full sermon can be found here;
http://www.thefinalsermon.com/
http://www.islamonline.net/english/In_Depth/mohamed/1424/kharitah/article02.shtml

So, we should not steal or engage in usurious activities. We must treat women as equals and with respect. No one is superior to another, superiority is measured by piety. When in doubt, refer to the Quran and Sunnah.