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.

M United

For the purposes of this posting, MU shall refer to Malays United.

I have been accused of being anti-Malay, tak mengenang budi, traitor of the Malay cause etc. This posting would probably strengthen those accusations.

Regular followers of this blog and my close friends would know that I think PERKASA is full of s*@!.

Now I’m going to tell everyone that the proposal for UMNO and PAS to work together for the sake of Malay unity is ludicrous and nonsensical.

I’m not against Malay unity. In fact I’m for Malay unity.

My version of Malay unity should not be based on political affiliation. If UMNO and PAS forge a relationship to foster Malay unity, what about the Malays in PKR, DAP, PSM etc.? The objective of uniting the Malays would not be achieved unless all Malays are involved, including those in PKR, DAP and PSM.

My second point is PAS is not a champion of the Malays. If anyone had not noticed, PAS is an Islamist party. It strives to promote Islamic ideals regardless of race. Annuar Tan an Idham Lim are PAS wakil rakyats. They are Muslims but they are not Malays. Well, not born Malays but are now de-facto Malays by constitutional definition. But the fact remains that they are genetically, biologically not Malays. So by allowing them to run as party candidates, PAS is affirming that they are an Islamic party first and Malay party (if at all) second.

Thirdly, what is Malay unity? Are we so shallow that Malay unity is to be equated with political unity? Can’t Malays have the freedom of thought and political belief? I may be a socialist but that does not stop me from being united with my capitalist Malay brothers (and sisters).

Another point is why does the UMNO-PAS unity talks only comes up at times when UMNO is weak and most vulnerable? The last time we heard talks about uniting Malay via the political route was back in 2000 but why were there no unity talks after BN’s (read UMNO’s) landslide victory in the 2004 elections?

Maybe some people refuse to accept the fact that Malays are united. The only thing we have to do is respect each other’s views and political ideologies.

Anyone Seen the Devil?

Recently there was a “fashion advisory” issued by some concerned Muslim citizens, advising Muslims not wear football jerseys with crosses and images of the devil printed on them. I have no objections with the "ban" on crosses (for Muslims) but to quote Art Harun, has anyone seen the devil and confirmed that the image on MU’s crest is that of the devil?

The reminder/advice is very timely and appropriate. I for one would not condone wearing football jerseys with crosses on the emblems/crest.

It sad to read some comments (in Malaysian Insider) by some people suggesting that Chevrolets be banned because it may lead the driver and passengers to church just because it has a cross looking emblem. Or to sarcastically suggest t-junctions be banned because it resembles a cross and hence un-Islamic for an Islamic country. Such comments are not called for. It reflects bigotry on the part of the commentators (who incidentally claim to be open minded and fair). They may be trying their skill at satire and if that is the case, it’s definitely a case of bad taste.

It is sad that some people choose to over react over the statement/reminder by the concerned citizens. What they meant when they said Muslims should avoid wearing jerseys with crosses is merely to remind the Muslims that they should not be proud to display the symbols of other religions on their dress. Wearing a t-shirt with a picture of a cross is the same as wearing a pendant the shape of a cross. If the latter is shunned by Muslims, why not the former?

The reminder not to wear clothes with such images was merely a reminder and it was never a decree, the muftis did not announce a fatawa on the matter. So why the hoo ha?

In anycase, would a Christian priest just stand by and watch his fellow brothers proudly wearing a t-shirt with the picture of the Kaabah on it?

As for the MU jerseys, the jury should still be out on it, until someone confirms that the thing on its emblem is actually the devil …

PERKASA is going to be SO PISSED

Tony Pua wants Selangor to cut Bumi discount for luxury homes (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/tony-pua-wants-selangor-to-cut-bumi-discount-for-luxury-homes/)

SHAH ALAM, July 26 – PJ Utara MP Tony Pua urged the Selangor government today to slash Bumiputera discounts for luxury homes and commercial property in the state, to improve competitiveness and restore investor confidence.

“Sacred cows need to be slaughtered,” said the chief economist for the DAP. However, Pua said the seven per cent discounts enjoyed by Malays and other Bumiputeras should be retained for homes below RM500,000.

“I am not against affirmative action but not for homes that cost RM1 million or RM2 million,” said Pua.

I’m risking being perkosa-ed by Perkasa but I, a Malay by birth and by constitutional definition, totally agree with Mr Pua.

If a Malay can afford a house costing a few million Ringgit, he/she does not need government assistance. If a Malay can afford luxury condominiums costing a few hundred Ringgit per square feet, he/she doesn’t deserve an NEP imposed Bumi discount.

If the rich Malays continue to demand for Bumi discounts on their million dollar properties, I’m sorry to say these are the “muka tak malu” type of people.

Look East Policy

I love Japanese food. No, I love sashimi and teppanyaki. I don’t fancy teriyaki, it’s a little to sweet for my liking. The udons and noodles … well I’m not such an adventurous eater so I didn’t really indulge in them so I wont know if I like them or not. One thing I know I don’t like about Japanese food is that egg-gy, sweet-ish dish, I don’t know what it’s called.

Anyway, I shall list my top few favourite Japanese eateries.  

Kogetsu @ Saujana

Top of my list. The dishes I order regularly (read: salmon & tako sashimi & beef teppanyaki, garlic fried rice, ebi tempura) never disappoints. The variety of beef types almost resembles that of a steakhouse. The ambience is nice, warm and ummm probably very Japanese. Prices are very Japanese too.

Tykoh Inagiku, @ Menara Keck Seng

I have known this place since I was a young boy, when they were still in Kompleks Antarabangsa. Now I’m a big boy and they have moved to Menara Keck Seng, I still know them. I don’t think they know me but it was them who introduced me to Prawn Teppanyaki with Japanese mayonnaise. It is a must order whenever I go there. No other place makes it as good as them.

Rakuzen (SS15 Subang, Empire, Plaza Damas & Chulan Square)

Whenever it is a chain of restaurants, I tend to dispute their quality. I can’t comment on the other outlets but the one in SS15 Subang is up to my standards but prior reservation is highly recommended.

Miyako @ Grand Dorsett Subang (fka Sheraton Towers)

I like this place. My regular dishes are not as good as the ones in Kogetsu or Tykoh Inagiku but it is definitely not horrible and good value for money, especially the “menu buffets”. The staff is friendly.

Kampachi (Equatorial & Pavilion)

Been there a few times, it was ok …

Genji @ Hilton PJ

I went there once and I wasn’t really happy. Maybe because it was too soon after a satisfying meal at Tykoh Inagiku but I remember telling myself as I walked to the car parked under the flyover that I won’t miss this place …

My comments on the food at these places only cover my regular dishes. So unless you share my taste, these “reviews” is probably totally useless …

Scholarships and Brain Drain

PM Najib announced that as part of his 1Malaysia programme, all students regardless of race will be awarded PSD scholarship if they obtain 9A+ for their SPM.

I applaud the announcement. In the spirit of justice and equity, his announcement couldn’t have come sooner. In fact it is overdue. Outstanding Malaysian students regardless of race should be given assistance to further develop their talents, for the betterment of Malaysia.

As expected, the only voice of dissent came from PERKASA. They want 67% of the scholarships to go to Malays. I have no problems with that – as long as the Malays qualify for the award. For arguments sake, let’s say there are 100 students with 9A+ and only 60 of them are Malays and the rest are non-bumis; the 67% rule would mean that only 29 or 30 non-bumi students will be eligible for scholarships. Do we turn away the remaining 10/11?

In anycase, when the PM says ALL students with 9A+ WILL get a PSD scholarship that means ALL WILL get scholarships, regardless of their racial background and that includes all the Malay students with 9A+, so why should PERKASA worry?

On a similar note, The Star today reported that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the Government is working to woo back more than 70,000 Malaysians working overseas by reducing bureaucracy and offering better perks via the establishment of Talent Corporation next year.

Reducing bureaucracy and offering perks will tempt some of them to return but will it entice those “bitter” with the system to come back? Those who fall under this category are probably those who were refused assistance (read: not given scholarships) because they were born on the wrong side of the racial divide.

The announcement by the PM should convince them to return as they will be reassured their children will be getting equal opportunities when it come to education but PERKASA’s discontent towards the policy could make them stay away.

World Champions

Please read this 

Steakhouse Stakeout

I am a carnivore, I only eat meat. Red meat. The following is a list of watering holes for steak lovers. The list is not exhaustive as there are many more steakhouses in the city that I have never had the chance to patronise but I think I have found a few worthy of a mention.

Coliseum Café, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Step into Coliseum Café and you will be transported back in time. Unlike the KL landscape, the café retains its history, charm and soul. I hope it will stay that way for a long time. I first went to the café 30 years ago and the place still looks the same today. The décor is simple, the chairs don’t match, the tablecloth is old but clean, the salad bowl is plastic. As for the food, I have never had anything other than sizzling steaks. During my most recent visit, I had the Chateaubriand steak, medium well. The brown sauce is superb.

Las Vacas, SS5 Kelana Jaya

Unassuming would be the word to describe this steakhouse cum butchers. Excellent would be the word to describe their steaks. Reasonable is the word to describe its prices. Go to the counter to order and choose your steak. Must go again and again and again.

Big Plate, Subang Permai

A steakhouse in Subang Permai? Subang what? Permai where? Go on a Saturday nite and you’ll end up waiting one hour for your meal. Wagyu beef is not on the menu but the variety of side dishes that comes with the steaks cannot be found elsewhere. Drinks come in huge tumblers. RM100 will get you a nice meal for two plus change. Avoid the pizza and avoid sitting inside if the place is full, it can be quite stuffy. Best time to go is 7.30pm and the best dish is the 'Big Plate Steak'.

Jake’s, Medan Damansara

They have one in Starhill but the prices are more expensive than the one in Damansara. The steaks are nice, making it a very safe choice. I love their escargot.

San Francisco Steakhouse, various locations.

I have been to the one in SS17 Subang Jaya and KLCC. I wasn’t really impressed. Las Vacas and Coliseum are better.

Victoria Station, various locations

Were they ever good? Probably, but my recent visits were quite disappointing to the point I’ve decided not to go there again.

And then there is Prime …

A Man’s House is His Castle

I went out on a “lunch date” a couple of days ago with; let’s call her Siti, because that’s her name, or at least the first part of her name. We ate at a café in a shopping mall near her office. It was a nice outing; we were talking all the way from her office lobby to the café and back to her office lobby. Topics were general, almost everything under the sun, almost.

No, I’m not bragging about my date. There is nothing to brag about and it’s probably not a date. Actually, I was passing some stuff to her and since its lunch time, we decided to have lunch together. Damn, it’s not a date after all!

What I want to talk about is one of the things Siti and me talked about – safety and security.

There has been so many cases of theft and robbery reported in the newspapers lately, from petty thievery like snatching handbags to house break-ins and car thefts, to mention a few. The robbers are getting bolder, my colleague’s girlfriend’s house was broken into in broad daylight in full view of everyone, thank God she was unharmed. There is even this case where two thieving brothers smashed the windscreen of a car at the stoplight to snatch the driver’s handbag. They however didn’t get far because they crashed and died after being chased by the victim and other good Samaritans (actually they got quite far, all the way the meet their Maker). What about the pregnant mom who was killed when thieves snatched her handbag causing her to fall off her bike?

I had a strange experience when I was in Basel recently. I was at a road side café having lunch with a friend and we both decided to go to the men’s room at the same time (no weird ideas please). I wanted to take my jacket with me as my passport was in one of the pockets and the loo was in the main restaurant building. My friend told me not to worry and just leave it there; no–one will take it. So I left it there and it was still there when I came back. That kind of confidence cannot be applied in KL.

Look at our houses, look at the grills and alarms we install just to keep the intruders out. Some even employ guards. Grills in addition to being ugly are also potential traps. We have heard many stories of people dying in a fire trapped by the grills.

Borrowing from Edward Coke (the 17^th century English parliamentarian), Calvin’s dad once said, “a man’s house is his castle but it shouldn't have to be his fortress”.

*this piece was written in August 2009.

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.

Amateur Photographer

My feeble attempts at photography. I took the following pictures at Lang Tengah using an Olympus FE-230 camera. According to Will Greenwald (a camera reviewer) the FE-cameras almost completely automate their shots, making them literal point-and-shoot cameras. In other words, it's a camera for dummies. 

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 :)

Cup of Upsets

First it was Italy, and then Spain followed by Germany and finally Italy again. Everyday the punters lose money and the bookies make more money. This edition of the Copa Mundial keeps true to its tradition of springing surprises not unlike 1982 when Algeria defeated the mighty West Germans only to be cheated out of a place in the second round.

I (and probably the rest of the world) predicted Germany, Italy and Spain to ease through the group matches and I (and probably the rest of the world) have been proven wrong. I must admit I hardly support the underdogs, and was quite frustrated with the heroics of the Kiwis against the Italians and the Swiss against the Spaniards. Parking the bus in the box has always been the game killer, and I often accuse (with proof) the smaller teams for packing the box with 9 players but then again how else would you contain attack after attack, without sending everyone back to defend the goal?  

I have nothing against the Kiwis or the North Koreans but they are ranked 78^th and 105^th respectively by FIFA so I wonder if their participation is justified when teams like Croatia (10^th) and Russia (11^th) are watching the tournament on TV. Whatever it is, the system has brought them to South Africa and they have proven their capability of holding their own in the company of the world’s top teams, its only fair to congratulate them for making the show more interesting.

Despite the upsets and especially the unconvincing display by the Spaniards, my money is still on them. Given the current state of affairs, I won’t be at all surprised if Italy, France and maybe even England get dumped at the group stages.

Micasa Sucasa

That’s Spanish for my house your house.

My house is a very nice house; it has a few bedrooms and bathrooms, an area to receive guests and another area to dine. It also has a kitchen! It cost some hundred thousand Ringgit and hopefully one day it will be worth six figures.

I heard they are building a house costing RM800 million. It comes with a dedicated flyover costing RM130 million. I also heard that initially the house only needed RM450 million to build but after further negotiations with the contractor, the figure ballooned to RM 800 million.

I’m quite disappointed with the revelations. I’m now actually paying for two houses, my house and that house. My employer takes a part of my salary and pays to Lembaga Hasil every month but every March, the e-filing system tells me I owe the Lembaga more money so I pay more money to the Lembaga. I’m sure some of the money I paid to the Lembaga goes towards building that house.

That house will be empty most of the time because the occupants have another house in another town in another state. A new family moves in every five years into the house.  

But wait … there is already a nice house. I used to go eat ikan bakar behind that house. It’s a nice house, I heard there is even a 6 hole golf course within the 28 acre compound.

AND there is another house in Putrajaya. Both the houses are in excellent condition, maintained by a team of PWD directors. So, why the need for another house?

I have no qualms about paying my hard earned money to the Lembaga but please use it wisely. Building live-able houses for the poor would be a good idea.

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.