STOP PRESS: RPK Will Speak at BUM2008!

This Update Post was originally written on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, and is now Re-dated so it enjoys a premier position, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.:)

BUM2008 TOUCHES DOWN ON MAY 1: UPDATE

STOP PRESS!

The King of Bloggers residing at the most visited or gate-crashed cyberhome known as malaysia-today.net simply called by matey fans as "RPK" -- often mixed up with PKR, I often wonder about the connection! -- has confirmed he will be present at BUM2008 at the Lake View, Subang Jaya to celebrate Labour Day with fellow 150 Bloggers and Friends!

Yes, you heard Desi right! -- Raja Petra Kamarudin is gonna help raise the FUN-d and desibelles at the Hap Bloggers' Event of the Year with his story-telling and rumour-wining and dining which often proved later to be factual, to humour his legion of readers.

As Chair, I won RPK over with a diplomatic request that he is allowed to deviate from the said Topic as long as he entertains the participants with his brand of byting sarcasm so famously engraved in reams of paper at Bukit Aman when a double Muhammad tried to trifle with a seasoned Blogger who not only could quote Shakespeare, but also the Quran from where this writer humbly continually learns about Islam.

I admit I also learn some 4-letter words -- like Hell and F***! Hey, spell it out for you guys thinking othervice - Fake!

Can you imagine the opponent being a confessed State CEO lacking English mastery that he could not fill up the Immigration forms properly to rationalise his departure with RM2.4million out of Ozland. Luckily for the bloke, some Oz courts also turned into kangaroo, but I digress. Except an observation that this same guy has been rewarded to Minister-level via the backdoor -- for carrying Pak Lah's bag?

So to now double state for the record, Raja Petra is that "Surprise speaker" flagged off in our earlier Post dated March 24, 2008 for the Evening Brainstormy Session. Just listening to this insider into Royalty and UMNO and Opposition goings-on, especially the shenanigans committed by self-deluded "untouchables", is worth thy RM50 investment! (Plus of course, the Lamb/s if it/they could get to Warren Buffet's table by 8.30pm on May the First, -- which is steal a rumour to humour Thee!)

So late-comers, as is won't of diehard Malaysian habit not just sighted at the nunnery, what are you waiting for? The Treasurer says the Registrations is in the last lap towards the number 110-mark. Make a dash for it, you may just break M Jegathesan's 100m sprint record! ~~ Desi

UPDATEd wit'

DESsert follows on Fridae morn, when a childe like one Penanggal, brave soul, hydeing out near Hyde Parke, under the guise of shestrikes.blogpsot.com.

She laments she can't attend BUM2008; yet others still sit back and do nothing to join the partee of the year right, or left, at their own doorsteps. Sigh, such is Life!:(

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Life's art
Once in a while I do this.Think, smile, think, sigh, think, weep, think, love. In a random order.It is always so easy to speed on and being so focused, or should I say too focused that everything else is left aside or given the axe. So once in a while I do this and I'm glad to feel this way. To be humbled, awed and being grateful for everything that has occurred and for me to turn out still me, in the end.Sometimes I feel that the way the path is it's meant to be. Certainly true that we are the narrator of our stories and we are the navigator of our choices, but as stories unfold and the wind blows, we can't deny there is only so much we could do and leave the rest to destiny, to luck, to God's arms, however you perceive it to be.Emulating is tiring and perceiving is draining. Beams of hope can be shadowed once rejection occurs and climbing up the stairs always leave you breathless. The point when you accept the views, breathless as it is, it takes your breath away. And breathe, and breathe, and breathe.I feel good. The way I see it now, you see what you want to see.I've never had to be poor, I've never had to starve, I've never had to even share. Most has been to mine, myself and I have more to go round for all. Seeing the same homeless lady who sits in front of the library steps, the methadone addict who has so much to provide but just falls short to helping himself, the single mum who works as a stripper to provide for her child, her rent and her drama degree, I sympathise their fears.We have our own road to work on, mending potholes and finding new connecting paths, but once in a while? It's great to sit down, take a sip of water and think that the road so far is a wonderful work of life's art.
Sounded by Twisted Heels at 23:03 0 comments

One Penanggal always leads to another "twin" -- so hear's another tan-ny Y&A Voiz:) from pavlovaramblings.wordpress.com ~~~~~~~~

Life in point form
April 25, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments

Today is one of those days I’m a bit nostalgic.

In a few months time, I’m going to be a quarter of a century old. What have I learned?

+ When you get thrown into the deep end in life, that’s where you know who you are.
Sometimes you are amazed at yourself on what your strengths and weaknesses are. It’s the best time to test limits and also to carve out a new you.

* Be open minded about the people you meet. Every person is very different. Some are horrible at first, but later on they proved to be the nice ones, and who stick by you through thick and thin.

+ “Are you pregnant? On drugs? If not, then no problem in the world is big enough!”
That’s what my Australian homestay mother told me when I burst into tears because my friends alienated me. Hey, I was 17. I was young, immature, naive. But, she does have a point.

*Friendships come and go. Treat your friends well while they’re with you, but don’t try to cling on to them if they obviously don’t want to be around you anymore. At the end of the day, another great friendship is just around the corner, waiting to be discovered.

+ If the people around you do not meet your expectations, let go of their shortcomings and appreciate their good points. Sometimes the people closest to you do or say the most hurtful things that you would ever imagine. It’s painful, damaging. However if you don’t let go of the grudge, the only person that gets killed is – yourself.

* You are meant to be in a shitty situation for a reason. Sometimes when you go through a horrible rut, getting through it is the most difficult part. It just doesn’t seem like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. But when you’ve finally emerged, you’ll realise that there was a reason why you went through all that shit.

+ Life’s all about equal and opposite reactions. It doesn’t need to take the book “The Secret” to tell you about it. Your good luck, good opportunities, good people around you are all based on how you approach life and people. Obviously the more positive you are, the better life treats you. To a certain extent.

*** Last but not least, be at peace with yourself. If you cannot find peace and comfort within yourself, then nobody else around you is ever going to satisfy you. Only you will know who you truly are.

A Writer Has to be an Optimist

Maybe sometimes he's also a Masochist.

I believe a writer's drive must include "inspiring Self" if not his Readers -- in order to grow -- and he must never insult his esteemed readers lest they desert him/her, for what good is a write if no one reads? There is an "ego" to be fed in every individual, right?

That's just me, ONE blardy writHer, writing this postulation. The "H" dare is to demo that I am also like a snake sometimes, I byte.
Sarcasm is the weapon of those can get away also wot' swearing 4-letter words -- like RPK's famous/infamous Hell! and F***! I don't know if the late Shannon Ahmad -- MP and literati -- 's puki+++ falls within the same definition. Ah, I digress.

(NOTE: The apostrophe ass stands separate in a unique permit Iuse under Poetic Licence -- if thou at no poet-aSspirant like Desi, you aren't not allowed to use it!:(



desiderata.english


You can beg to differ. I prefer "defer" to Desi badder. And 'badder' is good English if you are a Beatles fan. REF: Hey, Jude. Like one NSTman, who I wish would ID himself at BUM2008 cometh next Thursday. And if by now you don'tknow what BUM2008 is, please invest iRM1.50 on the Sunday Star today, turn to page .
Another more gooder reason to justify this small investment -- don't boycott MSM-lah, here's my rationale, okay except for Tuesdays, when you have Morrie for compagnie -- turn to page F28, read EVOLVE OR PERISH.

Jest a few extracts of a wonderrful write by ZAINAH ANWAR:

>> The massive public
repudiation of
Barisan Nasional
was not just a
repudiationof the
Prime Minister's
rule, but of all the
corrupt,immoral,
authoritarianism in
Barisan politics and
governance in its 50
years of
domination

and the closing para in the weekend column "SHARING THE NATION":

This is the last chance for this government to get it right
or else the usual 10-year electoral cycle of 'rise and fall'
in the performance of the ruling party will be broken. It
will be the fall and fall.

I wrote about Malaysian Voters' propensity for inflicting on themselves -- yeah, their masochistic tendency. Complain, complain and complain against the BN administration for four long years, cometh the General Elections, they still put the "cross" against the Dacing in the polling booth.

All these have come to pass as history on March 8, 2008.
Fellow Malaysians, I know we have finally taken a quantum leap in political maturity.
We Have Embraced CHANGE!

And it was a pleasant Change in reading some MSM pieces like Sdri Zainah Anwar's on a Sunday.My day of rumination, and capitalistic indulgences -- three layers of Skippy on my French toast, no cap:) to my tehtraik!

Where To, Internet? Where To, Malaysia?

Until after May 2, 2008 -- FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, borrowing Mob1900's famous quite!:) -- Desi is doing lots of Cut&Paste. Cuts are good, badder than those cuts of roast lamb which many BUMmers are 11-months pregnant with expectancy since May 19, 2007 (REF: 2007.wordpress.com).

2010: D-day for the Internet as it hits "full capacity"?
Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:19PM EDT

From Yahoo! news on frontpage when you log on to Yahoo! Mail:)


Buzz up!on Yahoo!




Doom-filled warnings arrive from AT&T this week. The company says that without substantial investment in network infrastructure, the Internet will essentially run out of bandwidth in just two short years.

Blame broadband, says AT&T.

Decades of dealing with the trickle of bandwidth consumed by voice and dialup modems left AT&T twiddling its thumbs. The massive rise of DSL and cable modem service in the 2000s has had AT&T facing a monstrous increase in the volume of data transmissions. And that's set to increase another 50 times between now and 2015. That's enough, says AT&T, to all but crash the system.

In response, AT&T says it's investing $19 billion (Desi: USD!) to upgrade the backbone of the Internet, the routers, servers, and connections where the bulk of traffic is processed.

Of course, AT&T is using this breathlessness in part to point fingers beyond simple broadband use. Web video (especially high-definition video) is the most commonly mentioned bandwidth hog. AT&T says video alone will eat up 80 percent of traffic in two years vs. just 30 percent now.

One wonders how YouTube doesn't collapse under the pressure. Hmmm.

Meanwhile, many are wondering whether this is prelude to AT&T announcing (or not announcing, but doing anyway) a traffic prioritization/shaping system like Comcast has been tinkering with... and which has earned it nothing but scorn. Net neutrality (which would forbid premium pricing for certain Internet applications and destinations) is a topic that continues to be hotly debated on Capitol Hill, and telcos are anxious to kill the idea since they'd love to be able to charge additional money for different kinds of web traffic.

If the whole Internet is about to crash, well, that makes AT&T's argument all the more compelling, doesn't it?

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From the NST, of which Desi wit' gladness has seen noticeable CHANGES -- along with other mainstream media (MSM) which my fellow Bloggers, especially Howsy, have looked askance with more than a hint of disdain -- since March 9, 2008, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. I believe the Law of Survival of The Fittest implicit in Charles Darwin's theory of evolution of the species works in the MSM too.

Thank GOoDness for tender mercies!

Malaysia is slowly but surely maturing!

I:
S:
A:men

less nowadays.

::To be continued as I C&P from NST Online later, okay! -- Miss Patience is also Ms Virtupus, as I often preach.

UPDATEd @4.59PM:

Thanks for thy patience, here's why the question was posed: Where To, Malaysia?

Page 7, NST, on Sports1 -- Football:(

2008/04/26
Perak coach's fears may come true


Steve Darby wrote to the FAM three times about his suspicions.

KUALA LUMPUR: Perak coach Steve Darby wrote to the Football Association of Malaysia on three occasions expressing his fear that match-fixing had returned to Malaysian football.

Little did he realise that his own team would be implicated as his players too, are under investigations.

Several Perak players are said to have been approached by a suspicious character and that Darby mentioned it in his letters to FAM."I can't reveal the contents of my letters because they were written in confidence." said Darby.

It is learnt that the person who approached the Perak players claimed to be working for a cable channel and when Darby heard of this, he called up the said station. It, however, denied having such a person on its payroll.

According to sources, a foreigner has also been trying to make contact with the Perak players and even visited a particular player at his home. Darby said he had some misgivings but was powerless to do anything. "While we are suspicious about the whole thing, it is difficult for us to establish hard evidence."

FAM general secretary Lt Jen (Rtd) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad confirmed that Darby had written to them of his suspicions, the last letter being sent in August. "But we could not go further as there was no evidence," he said.

DESIDERATA: Or is it the wrong people are heading the blardy sport bodies? Wait a while, read *** Citizen-Nades for his take!


Page 10, NST, Sports2 -- Women's Sports and Fitness Foundaion Malaysia, full extract:

ACA blames translation

KUALA LUMPUR: The Anti-Corruption Agency has cleared the air on allegations
that the Women's Sports and Fitness Foundation Malaysia (WSFMM) spent RM1.4million
on entertainment as a sports event last year.

In a statement, it said WSFFM's auditor had wrongly translated the word persembahan, which means performance, as entertainment in the annual report.

The agency also clarified that former youth and sports minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said was only a patron of the foundation and was not involved in financial management .

The statement said the word persembahan was related to the opening and closing ceremonies for the National Women's Games last year attended by participants nationwide.

The event was opened by the Raja Permaisuri Agong.

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*** I am not able -- as I am techie-non-savvy unlike most of you guys! -- to C&P CitizenNades's column today. Despite a recent quick Tutorial by mGf ancient mariner, I am still all at sea! Guide you there to page 17, theSun, titled:

Were the
torchbearers worthy?

Dear ER: Can a good Samaritan among my ER C&P this wonderful piece and send it in full via Comments? "Muchos:)" an olde way of XXpressing my thanks just revived by a Friend.:) TQ, TG!

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Meanwhile, I just came back from RPK's malaysia-today.net -- Come-lah, you habitually late-comers, to BUM2008 on May 1 and speak to the KING OF BLOGEERS! -- and here's somethin' "knotty" I stole:) I know it reads like a Jungle now, let me leave for quikkie runch and come back 2 hours later to do the "make-up", OK! ~~ DEsi @1.06PM:(


Is DAP showing its true colours?



Posted by Raja Petra
Thursday, 24 April 2008

Aiyah, bilalah orang DAP nak buang otak Cina dan tukar kepada otak Malaysia? Patutlah orang Umno suruh orang DAP balek Cina. Aku dah lama nak masuk DAP tapi meluat tengok perangai Chinese Chauvinist DAP ni.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Karpal Appeals To PM For Hindraf Leaders' Release

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- DAP Chairman Karpal Singh today appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to instruct Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar to revoke the detention order on the five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Karpal said that despite the detention orders by the King, Syed Hamid could at any time under the law revoke the orders on the five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
The King had on March 26 ordered for the leaders two-year detention, effective Dec 13 last year, be continued until completion.
"I would have thought, in line with the reconciliatory stance of the government in bringing about reforms, including setting up of a judicial commission for the appointment and promotion of judges, the five leaders would have been set free to rejoin their families."
In fact, the Government should, in line with this approach, repeal the ISA," said Karpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, in a statement tonight.
On Dec 13 last year, the authorities detained M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar for organising a mass rally in the federal capital and making demands for the rights of Indians in the country.

*************************************************
Nik Aziz’s son was detained for more than five years. Do you know the name of this son?
There are about 90 or so ‘Muslim terrorists’ who are in their seventh year of detention.

Okay, we have five Hindraf activitists, now popularly known as the HINDRAF 5, who have been under detention for the last four months. And their names are M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar.

Yes, that’s right, five Indians going by the name of M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar have been under detention without trial since the last four months and we want them freed without any further delay.That’s work with me. I am all for it.

Now, can be list down the names of the other 90 or so Malaysians who have been detained for up to six to seven years?

The five Indians are called M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar.

I want to know the names of the other 90 Malaysians -- Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other ‘natives’. Can we also list their names down? Who are they? Where are they from?

The five Indians have been under detention since Christmas last year. Some of the other 90 have been under detention for six or seven Christmases. I believe in FIFO (first in, first out) not LIFO (last in, first out).

Okay, we know that the HINDRAF 5 -- M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar -- have been detained for the ‘crime’ of organising a massive demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007.

What are the crimes of the other 90 -- whom no one cares what their names are?

:
:
:
Aiyah, bilalah orang DAP nak buang otak Cina dan tukar kepada otak Malaysia? Patutlah orang Umno suruh orang DAP balek Cina. Aku dah lama nak masuk DAP tapi meluat tengok perangai Chinese Chauvinist DAP ni.

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

DESIDERATA: Sdr RPK has asked some pertinent questions of DAP leaders and I advise my ER to visit MT to read the post in full, to do the writer Justice. I'm not gonna pamper you (you're not a babe, or are you?) copying the 'hole thingy for thee.:( Lazy BUMmers!


BUT Desi says there is some HOPE yet. Here are two blobs of Sunshine -- even UMNO Youth leaders can change! And have the humility to apologise! And an independent news portal malaysiakini.com has also the decency and responsibility to tender an Apology for some slipshod reporting!

We all learn. Even Desi learns for covering Che'Gu Bard's Press Conference which I wrote about in an earlier Post (will check Date, OK!) and taking his word as "final" and credible without hearing the other side. The only mitigating factor for YL Chong is I was then writing as a Blogger, not a fulltime reporter, BUT THAT"S NOT A GOOD EXCUSE. I too apologise to my Esteemed Readers!

Page 10, NST, a Poltician's AP, partial extract only:
2008/04/26

'I'm sad I upset non-Malays'


KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday apologised for drawing a kris at the Umno general assembly in 2005 and 2006, acknowledging that the act had upset non-Malays.

"Today, we saw many things being talked about in earnest among the delegates," he said after chairing the first Barisan Nasional youth meeting since the general election last month.

"This included the issue of the Panca Warisan kris. I told them, I am responsible for what happened if it had in any way affected our performance.

"I apologise if this has affected anybody. I apologise to the non-Malays if they felt afraid of the symbol.

"To the Malays, I also apologise because I cannot defend the symbol of our heritage."

Hishammuddin said the issue was not as big as it was made out to be.

"But the reality is such, and I am not someone who is so filled with pride or arrogance that I cannot accept this fact.

"This is a sad lesson. However, if the dictates of politics are such, then we as leaders must embrace it and place our position in the Barisan Nasional above all else."

The Panca Warisan kris, which is kept at the Umno Youth headquarters, is ceremoniously carried into the hall at the start of every Umno general assembly.

In the past, the Umno Youth chief would, at the start of the assembly, unsheath the blade and kiss it before holding it up in the air. The kris would then be placed on a pedestal.

The raising and kissing of the kris at the assembly in 2005 and 2006 created an uproar among non-Malays, particularly those in MCA and Gerakan.
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Page 10, NST, an Online New Portal's AP, full extract:

Malaysiakini says sorry to Khairy


KUALA LUMPUR: News portal Malaysiakini yesterday apologised to Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin over reports that he had initially lost the parliamentary seat, which he won by 5,726 votes.

The Umno Youth deputy chief wrote to Malaysiakini disputing the reports of a recount of votes on polling night in the Rembau parliamentary constituency.

His letter, which was published in full, said reports of him first losing and then winning the seat, after a recount, were false and baseless.

Khairy said in his letter that he was present at the main counting centre on the night of March 8.

"At no point did I lose an initial count and, as such, at no time was there a need for a recount.

"The total number of votes cast in favour of my opponent, Badrul Hisham Shaharin from Parti Keadilan Rakyat, did not at any time warrant a recount as provided for under the Elections (Conduct of Elections) Regulations 1981.

"I was declared winner by 5,746 votes after the first and only count," he said.

In response, Malaysiakini said it was told by Badrul on election night that there would be a recount.

It said Badrul subsequently said there was a recount at a press conference.

"However, we have come to know now that such a recount did not take place.

"As such, we would like to apologise to Khairy for publishing that assertion in our subsequent stories," it said.

Meanwhile, in Seremban, Badrul, a PKR supreme council member, filed an election petition at the High Court yesterday to declare the election result void.

The petition was filed through his lawyers from Shearn Delamore & Co at 3pm.

The main grouse was that there was non-compliance with election regulations and that the total number of ballot papers issued for the four state seats under the Rembau constituency did not tally with the total issued for the parliamentary seat.

Under the Election Offences Act 1954, the High Court has to come up with a decision on the election petition six months from the date the petition was filed.

Najib Tun Razak the Chameleon?

IS NAJIB ANOTHER MAHATHIR IN THE MAKING?



“Najib does not look like Mahathir, but he sounds like Mahathir”. That seems to be a common impression of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak’s callous statement that followed Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s heart-warming speech over the 1988 judicial crisis during Bar Council’s dinner on April 17.

In a speech that ended with the audience’s prolonged applause and standing ovation, Pak Lah (the PM) tacitly expressed remorse for the wrong done to the six Supreme Court judges and the judicial system and undertook to commence judicial reforms starting with the setting up of the long sought after Judicial Appointments Commission. Though there was no official apology, Pak Lah’s heartening words of recognition and comfort to the former judges and his promise of “goodwill ex-gratia” payment to them are unmistakably acts of admission of errors and atonement. Though these acts were deemed short of expectations (full measures should have included an apology and a full investigation), the former judges and their families felt relieved and consoled to various degrees for having being finally vindicated, and the audience in general felt elated by the Prime Minister’s historical announcement. None in the audience that night could mistake the PM’s statement as anything other than genuine contrition and desire to make good not only to the judges but to the entire judicial system.

While the warmth generated by Pak Lah’s statement were still lingering, Najib’s incongruous statement the following day must have jolted many to the reality of present day Malaysian politics. Obviously referring to Pak Lah’s speech, Najib said:

“The ex-gratia payment is not tantamount to revisiting whatever that has been decided. It is not to be construed as any form of apology but this is our way of addressing some of their personal considerations and some of the personal experiences, hardship that they have gone through.

“That is all … so it is to be seen in that light. It should not be construed as anything beyond that.”

NAJIB’S STATEMENT NEGATIVE

This Najib statement is a flat denial of any wrong done against the judges, and the payment, according to Najib, is not to compensate for the wrong done but something to meet the “personal considerations” and “personal experiences, hardship” encountered by the judges. What a mouthful of nonsense is that? If no wrong has been done, why bother to pay anything at all? If the judges were rightfully sacked and suspended as implied by Najib, then these judges should have been reprimanded instead of being lauded and rewarded with presumably hefty sums of money. By maintaining Najib’s position, he has practically exposed Pak Lah to potential ridicule for squandering large sums of taxpayers’ money on some high officials who have already being designated as having betrayed the trust of the state.

Contrast Najib’s cold words of denial against Pak Lah’s generous words of praise and conciliation. Pak Lah described the six judges as “towering judicial personalities” representing a “venerable institution which could be trusted to deliver justice… a model for other countries – independent and credible”. Referring to the judicial upheaval of 1988, Pak Lah said: “Rightly or wrongly, many disputed both the legality and morality of the related proceedings. For me personally, I feel it was a time of crisis from which the nation never fully recovered.” As for the “goodwill ex-gratia” payment, it was meant “to recognize the contributions of these six judges to the nation, their commitment towards upholding justice and to acknowledge the pain loss they have endured ,,,,,,,,,a heartfelt and sincere gesture to mend what has been.”

What interpretation can we draw from these plain words of Pak Lah other than an honest admission of the Executive having done these great judges grievous injury, causing the nation to suffer till this day? Against this praise worthy gesture, which won stumping approval from an audience which represents the cream of the nation, isn’t Najib’s negative and arrogant statement an insult to the Prime Minister personally and the height of insolence against the nation, which had been yearning for so long for this historic day of a new beginning for the judiciary?

The second point of confrontation posed by Najib’s statement is his denial of the fallen state of our judiciary.

Pak Lah has frankly admitted that the “level of trust and respect for the judiciary” had declined. He spoke of prevalence of “perceived corruption and perceived decline in quality”. He said the business community were concerned “about the fairness and capacity of Malaysia ’s judiciary in settling disputes”. He further said “some Malay rulers have openly voiced their disquiet on what they see as a decline, requiring nothing short of a judicial renaissance. Some retired judges have related troubling tales of impropriety.”

It was in recognition of such glaring inadequacy of our judiciary, and of the overwhelming demand by the nation, including “politicians from both side of the aisle”, that Pak Lah proposed the Judicial Appointments Commission, so as to ensure that the best be appointed to the bench, in a transparent and accountable system.

Asked to comment on Pak Lah’s proposal, Najib said that this reform measure “means that the government is aware that we do need to ensure that our judiciary has the highest reputation ….” Notice the meticulous effort by Najib to avoid admission of the sordid state of our judiciary and of the need to reform, through his evasive reference to the need to have the “highest reputation”. This again is in contrast with Pak Lah’s recognition for extensive reform when he said: “There is still much to do to renew the public’s trust in the nation’s judiciary and to ensure that justice is consistently delivered. What I have announced tonight is the beginning of a longer process towards reforms.”

NAJIB AT VARIANCE WITH PAK LAH

That Najib is not in consonance with Pak Lah on the latter’s reform measures is obvious, as further illustrated in a Bernama report on April 20 when Najib was asked to comment on the Anti-Corruption Agency reforms (proposed by ACA itself) that surfaced on the heal of Pak Lah’s judicial reforms. Queried whether these reforms were an effort by the government to rehabilitate Barisan Nasional, Najib said “quite a number of people felt” that the government had not done enough to fulfill the 2004 reform pledges, and therefore these reforms are continuing efforts, but he quickly qualified by saying only “those deemed necessary and appropriate”.

On whether there were other reform plans, Najib said: “We are open to suggestion”.

Najib added: “Of course on overall working of the ACA, for example, there are various views expressed. The government has not made a formal decision (on the ACA), as such, we are still open to it. The Prime Minister is personally looking into it.”

And on April 21, the Prime Minister stunned the nation with a surprisingly comprehensive package to turn the ACA into an independent institution that was supposedly modeled after the much praised Hong Kong counter part (Independent Commission Against Commission). Pak Lah also said there would be a “whistle-blower” protection act to protect informers.

This latest development revealed that Najib not only does not share Pak Lah’s reform zeal but is actually not privy to Pak Lah’s reform plans.

RETURN OF MAHATHIR?

On the other hand, Najib’s nonchalant reform posture seems to find remarkable resemblance with that of former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who in his latest appearance in the BBC “Hard Talk” program, dismissed Pak Lah’s reform efforts as mere opportunistic move to regain lost popularity. Mahathir insisted that the sacking of judges in 1988 was perfectly legal and proper.

Mahathir may have repeatedly chafed Najib for lacking the courage to have an open showdown with Pak Lah, but make no mistake, Najib remains Mahathir’s favourite. This was made abundantly clear when Pak Lah for the first time named Najib as his successor in a recent gathering of UMNO leaders in Johor Bahru. Mahathir’s instant reaction was that Najib was the ideal candidate to take over from Pak Lah, in spite of Mahathir’s earlier intimidation to back other horses.

There should not be any doubt that if and when Najib takes over, Mahathir’s influence will return. Answering a question in the BBC interview, Mahathir expressed confidence that UMNO would regain its glory if Pak Lah was replaced immediately. Knowing Mahathir’s recalcitrance as an autocrat and his disdain for the rule of law, need we to speculate that his path to glory is none other than his well-trodden path of repression – perhaps another Operasi Lalang? And who better to realize that dream than favourite and alter ego Najib?

Those who are agitating for Pak Lah’s immediate step down are precisely the same people who have alienated the masses with unbridled racial arrogance and corruption. Had they heeded Pak Lah’s reform call – such as prompt implementation of the IPCM and restrain in raiding public coffers – would BN have suffered such humiliation in the recent general election? It is the political system that the people have rejected, not the leader.

The dawn that was ushered in by Pakatan Rakyat is an irreversible historical trend – dismantling of racial bondage and freeing of the democratic spirit - as once the fruits of that trended is tasted, the people will not let go of it. So, one either swims with the current or dies going against it.


Kim Quek.

22.04.2008

DESIDERATA: I didn't pay much attention most things the Deputy Prime Miister said since the UMNO Youth bums started waving the keris at their annual sandiwara General Assembly the past few years, for I know they were just following in the footsteps of their Party's number 2 waving the war symbol some 20 years earlier at a massive gathering that evoked the dark clouds overhanging Kuala Lumpur on May 13, 1969.

In fact I had writ that when I watched TV news the recent news, whenever this guy's face appeared -- plus that head of MIC's thuggish appearance at a highway site blastering Malaysians that we could take a hike by using the bullock cart travelling KL-Pg and enjoying the 1-1/2 months ride -- I switched channles. Or just swtced the TV off to save on electricity. Yes, I am a conservative preservationist. Is this phrase correct? Correct, corect, correct? Yes, including this actor-of-a-lawyer who actually proved beyond a shadow of a doubt the debacherised state of affairs the Malaysian Judiciary has descended into.

So when fellow saudara KIM QUEK wrote this scintillating analysis -- Yes, Desi sometimes uses BIG words! -- I kept nodding my head! No,I did not go to ZZZZZZZZZZland for a VK-tion!:(

Heed this warning, especially when it comes from your neighbour!

Stock market turbulence accompanied by nation-wide recession are being speculated towards the year-end, marked specifically as cross-roads when the United States' presidential elections reached a climax in November. By then the lids on "keeping things under control" by the present Bush administration and the Federal Reserve would pass onto new hands, and that's when the crunch will come.

Malaysia , like most South-east Asian countries, won't be spared the contagion effects of a US economic downturn, so Malaysians have better brace themselves for tough times ahead. I am just jotting down occasional economic reports which are worth a second look based on my few years as a Business journalist and now still having my eyes on the world business front and how it impacts Malaysia. My 3sen worth -- I always add one more sen to most people's -- cos I am generous with words. Yes, and words are I have, to take your heart away:)

WARNING: This observation above is not a prompt to Readers to buy or sell their stocks. Of course if you punt, buy Desi a tehtarik or even a CON BF on Sundae. If thou lose, call it bad feng shui -- your house is located on the wrong side of the River Ujong. Re-locae to Furong, where the river is swift and slow. How's that possibe? Swift when the market is high, slow when the market is lo-and-behold!

World 'may face deepest recession in 30 years'

(Although the aricle is from Singapore's Straits Times, I plucked this from malaysia-today.net ~~ Desi)

Posted by Raja Petra
Tuesday, 22 April 2008

But govts can lessen the pain by acting swiftly to stabilise markets: Tony Tan
By Bryan Lee, Economics Correspondent, THE STRAITS TIMES

THE world could be facing its worst recession in three decades, but governments can lessen the effects of the downturn if they act decisively within the next three to four months.

The warning came from Dr Tony Tan, the deputy chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC), who urged policymakers to take strong action to stabilise investment markets and sentiment amid the extreme uncertainty surrounding the global economy.

'We could be facing a recession which is longer, deeper and wider than any recession that we have encountered in the last 30 years,' he said yesterday.

'The next few years may well be among the most challenging years for GIC since our establishment in 1981.'

As for the GIC's recent investments in global banks UBS and Citigroup, Dr Tan said these long-term investments will 'give us good returns when markets stabilise and economic conditions return to more normal levels'.

The world economy and its financial markets are in turmoil, triggered by a mortgage crisis in the United States that is still unfolding.

The crisis of confidence has led central banks, especially the US Federal Reserve, to intervene in unprecedented ways to avert a seizure in the world's banking system.

Dr Tan told about 500 staff at the GIC's first annual staff conference: 'The prospects for the US economy and possibly even the world economy are fraught with considerable downside risks.'
He warned that financial markets will be 'extremely nervous and volatile over the next one to two years'.

But the pain can be reduced and shortened if policymakers around the world act swiftly, he said. By doing so, 'investment markets and sentiments can turn around sharply'.

The alternative is that market forces would be left to themselves to stabilise the US housing sector, which would be a 'considerably more painful and long-drawn process'.

Dr Tan said the GIC has been alert to the prospect of the current problems since last year and moved its portfolio to a more conservative posture by selling some shares and holding on to the cash.

Such a move, said Dr Tan, had not been taken for 'quite some time'. And it provided liquidity for the GIC's subsequent investments into UBS and Citigroup.

The GIC has beefed up its management structure over the past nine months. After creating four senior posts in July last year, the GIC set up three group-level committees to oversee operations, investments and risks across its three main units.

The management committee is helmed by managing director Lim Siong Guan and looks into organisational, business and personnel issues.
The investment committee is charged with developing and implementing asset allocation policies and investment strategies. Led by chief investment officer Ng Kok Song, it also does regular reviews of the risk and performance of the GIC's various investments.
Finally, the risk committee provides oversight and guidance for the GIC's risk management policies and practices. It is led by chief risk officer Sung Cheng Chih.
Mr Ng's and Dr Sung's appointments were two of the new posts created last July. The other appointments were for GIC's asset management arm. GIC managing director Lee Ek Tieng was made chairman of the subsidiary and Mr Quah Wee Ghee, president.
'This management structure enables GIC to have groupwide oversight on our operations, investments and risks,' said Dr Tan.
But it also gives sufficient autonomy to the GIC's investment subsidiaries - asset management, real estate and special investments - so that they can respond in a timely fashion to changes in investment circumstances, he added.

The NST Truly Is an UMNO Organ

We all know that UMNO controls the stable of newspapers under the New Straits Times Group, and the English daily New Straits Times suffered a huge decline in circulation (its numbers nowadays make it third ranked after The Star and theSun...) precisely because of the tight links to the main political party in the Barisan Nasional coalition, accompanied by the several internal factional fights. Especially damaging was the Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleight Hamzah's bitter fight for the UMNO presidency and by implication, the premiership of the country.

But reading a piece yesterday (Monday April 21, 2008) on page 7 leaves no doubt in any reader'smind that indeed, the NST is an UMNO mouthpiece -- it does not even attempt to wear the slimmest veil of disguise. Maybe the bride has lost its virginity long, long ago!

The author : Zubaidah Abu Bakar (with photo to boot)
Status: Unknown



The eye-opener follows (Cut&Paste from malaysia-today.net but Desi has the Print edition in front of him):

SABOTEURS. They are enemies from within or what the Malays call api dalam sekam, whose unsavoury practices, can weaken Umno and place the party in a bad light.

If their activities are left unchecked, they can even destroy the party.

Umno does not need traitors during challenging times like this. The party instead needs members who place party interests above self.

The party wants to purge these negative elements but is facing constraints because members with solid evidence are not keen to come forward.

A month after the 2004 general election, the Umno disciplinary board found 22 members who contested against Umno candidates guilty and the supreme council endorsed that they be sacked.

The most known among the lot is former party supreme council member and maverick Datuk Ibrahim Ali, who contested in Pasir Mas as an independent candidate and lost in the 2004 elections. He is now Pasir Mas member of parliament after winning the seat on the Pas ticket in the March 8 polls.

Then, the disciplinary board received 454 reports against saboteurs from 32 divisions and after investigations, the 22 were banned for life by the Umno supreme council.

Besides those who contested as independents, there were also those who acted as proposer or seconder for the independent or opposition candidates, while some campaigned against the party.

After thorough investigations, some were censured with a warning or suspended while those without a prima facie case against them were discharged due to lack of evidence.

But why aren't reports pouring in this time?

Party leaders have been verbally informed about the saboteurs, naming former cabinet members and grassroots leaders among them, soon after the general election. And going by the number of reports received by the disciplinary board so far, they are way short of expectations.

Reports received contained allegations of closing operation centres,setting up of different election machinery,abstaining from voting and paying people not to vote for certain candidates.

Party leaders, including president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has gone on record saying that saboteurs were the cause of Barisan Nasional's massive losses, particularly in Perak and Kedah.

He specifically pointed out that 14 parliamentary and 22 state seats went to the opposition due to sabotage by party members.

There is no point for candidates who lost in the last general election to point fingers at others without providing the evidence.

Talk alone is not enough. The disciplinary board has no power to initiate investigations without first getting a formal report, complete with evidence like the name, time and place of the alleged offences and also witnesses who can support the claims.

Party members are aware of this requirement. They also understand the need for traitors to be dealt with.

"We cannot act hastily, but if we close an eye to the sabotage, it is also not right," said deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

So, what is actually preventing party members from lodging a formal complaint?

It is a responsibility for those who love the party and believe in its struggle to do so. Distancing themselves from the issue is as good as being a saboteur themselves.

There is, however, only one option for members who refuse to toe the line and instead play dirty politics -- quit Umno and join the ranks of the opposition.

DESIDERATA: When the journalist in me (YL Chong) read the piece, I looked and looked, but nowhere could I find if Zubaidah was writing as a Reporter? Or as a Commentator/Columnist? Or as an UMNO party member?
It gives Desi the first impression she's some UMNO Wanita leader...
Hence, I stated her status as "Unknown".

And in journalism, this identification of this status is important, in fact, IMHO, is critical, because the reader is let wondering as through "what lens" she is looking at the issue she's giving her two sen's worth! And this criterion is significant is determining the credibility of the author.

Could the daily be negligent in omitting to state this fact? Or it has truly become so arrogant, it deems it unimportant to inform the readers? Question, question, question, all from one reader who paid RM1.20 only -- why-lah?

Because, dear Editor/s of the NST if you are reading this -- it's my dutyhaving been involved, and being involved still, also trained? -- in the Fourth Estate for some three decades, to ask quetions as such a professional involvement and engagement just does not die with one's leaving the field fulltime!

Calling owner of newskini.serveftp.net...

Can you -- especially if you have 20million -- contact owner of desiderata2000.blogspot.com
as soon as possible. Email chongyl2000@yahoo.com.

If not, contact my PR-- can stand for public realtions or Pakatan ... what? -- moo_t. If you don't know where to contact mGf, just google caffeinbar... TQ you:):)

Alternatively, meet Desi at BUM2008. If you have to ask what's BUM2008, go to the sidebar, click on Mob1900's Poster-cum-ButtON!:):)

Sundays' MSM -- Joining Desi's Ruminations?

Desiderata has averred that it's not practical to totally boycott the MSM (mainstream media) as had been lobbied for by a group of Bloggers quite well headed by human rights' advocate, Haris Ibrahim. Fellow Blogger Ancient Mariner and I are of the opinion a good compromise is to have a limited boycott on one day in the seven-day week, now generally accepted by Bloggers to be on Tuesdays, as a form of "protest in principle". Today I won't go into the pros and cons of these two schools of thought; I just mention that often it's the Editors who play politics that leads to much disgust and even hatred of the MSM by the public, but I think I have many friends serving as ordinary Reporters who try their best to serve the Fourth Estate well, but they work under great constraints arising from political masters and parties who also are the major owners of the newspapers.

Today on Sunday, when I try to find time away from energy-taxing, often debilitating, Malaysian politics to eat the manna of of the soul -- my soul, not yours as I often believe each human must take care of his/her own soul or salvation, I get very disturbed when some parties, or is it many parties, who try to play moral guardians of their neighbours when they could not even recite Desiderata by Max Ehrmann to save their lives! Okay, my prejudice is showing, but that's jest me pulling your legs, hairy or smooth as satin. I ain't no discriminator on sex, oops, on gender, a safer word, as the former because some Readers get eaily agitated when they did not get an INVITE from Desi to have CON BF at Men Kee in hazy, mazy and crazy Furong:( and would interpret everything I write to use it against my GOoD intentions, assuming I have any.:)

Okay, enough of digression -- which is a Blogger's privilege to abuse, that's why many BN components' youth wings have responded, flying in eh? -- here follow THREE GOoD reasons why I still need to have some Sunday papers with my Continental Breakfast.

Reason1:

A good piece in The Sunday Times by a columnist I have exchanged some emails, writing on a subject with a subtopic I just wrote about which I reprise here thus BOLDED), after the first few opening paras: ~~

NST Online » Columns2008/04/20
TUNKU ABDUL AZIZ:
It's the triumph of good over evil

By : Tunku Abdul Aziz


IT was unprecedented. And totally out of character for the normally staid New Straits Times to do what it did on Wednesday (April 14).

It dropped all pretence of squeamishness and published its damningly elegant editorial "Get on with the job" which said it all.

It was nothing if not a deeply wounding indictment of the dark side of Umno politics in the aftermath of the 12th general election that saw the mighty in disorderly retreat.

The editorial, couched in language that was quite extraordinary in its directness, had apparently produced the desired effect without being offensive.

It struck at the heart of the anxiety felt by Malaysians as they watched helplessly with ever growing despair their country being forced willy-nilly to witness Umno's tragicomedy being played out with every prospect of turning itself into a full-scale Malaysian tragedy.

:
:
:




I do not succumb to emotion easily as a rule, not publicly anyway. However, I made an exception to my own rule that Friday morning when I read about a "heartfelt gesture to mend the pain and loss" inflicted on Tun Salleh Abas and five other judges at the hands of Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1988.

I had a quiet cry because this had proved to be a modern classic case of the triumph of good over evil.

While we are celebrating the restoration of dignity and bestowal of honour that had been unceremoniously removed by an ethically and morally deficient administration of an era best forgotten for its corrupting influence, we must not forget another victim of injustice, former High Court judge Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid who blew the whistle and alerted us to the rot that had set in throughout the system of justice.

If we had only taken his warning seriously, we might have saved the judiciary from its ultimate fall from grace. Instead of protecting him, we hounded him, and made him out as a troublemaker.

In a sense, the events of the last few years have fully vindicated Syed Ahmad Idid, an incorruptible public servant who found the ethical standards of his colleagues on the bench way, way below those prescribed for the custodians of justice.

He became a victim because he lived by a different set of rules.

He deserves similar treatment as Salleh and the other five judges.

Abdullah must look at this blatant example of the manipulation of the system of justice by the state and address the wrong done to Syed Ahmad Idid quickly. Reform should begin with his case and proceed from there.

(The writer is a former Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Ethics. He can be contacted at tunkua@gmail.com)

DESIDERATA: My comments as written a day before in the post titled " One Distinguished BUM2008 Speaker... and a few opening paras

"Datuk Syed Ahmad IdidNow that the Judicairy is hogging the media limelight, I reprise here an item from last year's ...yes, from an Mainstream Media (MSM,) so one cannot totally boycott the MSM, but I digress.My main point is that one of the esteeemed BUM2008 Speakers is Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid, and one of my buddies, Capt Yusof Ahmad aka Ancient Mariner, who resides at http://cyusof.blogspot.com/ was the one responsible for lasso-ing this ex-Judge to speak on May 1, 2008 at the Lake View Club. "Thanks, Saudara Syed Ahmad, for accepting our humble Invite!:) " on behalf of BUM2008 Organising Committee. ~~ Desi"

suffice. Gostan-lah if you think it's worth a re-visit:) "

Reason2:

I am reproducing in full, from The Sunday Star -- which is a rare detour for Desi's journey, but after March 8, 2008 much has changed, including in the MSM and so must we, the Readers! -- and for once I agree with its stance. Hopefuly, the spirit lives on and it's not just a momentary high just because it's politically correct, correct, correct now!

The Star Says:

Sunday April 20, 2008
Political culture must be changed

UMNO, which forms the backbone of the Barisan Nasional coalition, is in turmoil following the stunning results of the recent general election. The party, bruised but still formidable, is doing some soul searching. But as its December general assembly draws nearer, political jostling seems to have taken centre stage.

In the aftermath of the electoral setback, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has come under tremendous pressure, as the call for a leadership change seems to be growing louder. Above the din of blame shifting, finger pointing and posturing, the real message of the voters seems to have been ignored or lost.

What caused the electoral rebuff despite the tremendous progress and development made possible under the BN government during the last 50 years? Are there loftier appeals besides the bread and butter issues that swayed the votes on March 8? Is BN still relevant and, indeed, racial politics still attractive to a better educated and more informed electorate? These are the big questions begging for answers.

Pak Lah should be commended for admitting that he must shoulder part of the blame for Umno’s debacle. But lest we forget, all those who now join the chorus for a leadership change are equally guilty.

In fact, the blame should also be laid at the door of every government department, agency and local authority dealing with the public as some of them are rotting with complacency, incompetence, arrogance, and even bigotry.

Pak Lah should rein in those little Napoleons who hijack good government policies to suit their own agendas. Unfortunately, the rakyat see them as the face of the BN government and they used their votes to show their resentment.

In 2003, Pak Lah came in strong with the promise of fighting corruption and enhancing the delivery system. With that, he won hands down at the 2004 general election.

Unfortunately, to walk the talk is never an easy task. The public perception is that too little has been done too slow too late.

A leadership change will not work miracles for the party if the political culture remains.
Umno can bounce back strongly if it can show that it has zero tolerance for cronyism, corruption, abuses of power and other excesses.

DESIDERATA: While I said earlier I agree with 100% the Editorial the daily ran, I personally feel there is a "gap" to fill -- the role played by the Fourth Estate reprsented by the MSM in the yaers leading up to the GE2008 Debacle for which big brother in the Barisan Nasional UMNO, accompanied by second brother MCA, are now paying a high price. The MSM had generally been accomplices to the political masters by sweeping the core national issues and their Truth beneath the Putrajaya carpet to make the Prime Minister suffer from four years of delusion. Or hw only woke up - just like the MSM Editors -- on March 9, 2008 and truly saw the Light. The Editors had been pulling blinkers over Pak Lah's eyes until some smart Voters -- okay many "V"oters! -- voted for CHANGE!

Oft Desi had said here: It's another classic case of bolting the stable's gate after the horse has bolted.

Third reason?: Go buy the Sunday Star-lah at 75sen half-price since it'snow 7.21PM, and read an interview with the New Secretary-Generalof Parti Keadialan Rakyat. I knew him online as Umar Mukhtar,and had enjoyed several of his Letters to the Editor, Malaysiakini.com. I didn't realise he was a junior at MCKK with Anwar Ibrahim. The interview is an eye-opener.

My copy is for auction starting at RM3.00 -- that's what is called value-added. The PKR subject knows very well, he hails from a corporate background to be saluted!:) I hope he starts a Blog soon. mGf Din Merican, buy him tehtarik and invite Desi?

Desiderata.English Reprised

OR is it Reprisal?

Go consult your teacher,or if your English teacher is half-past-six like one ex-MB who has not love for RPK, and vice versa, and who (the former-lah) did not respond to Desi's offer of English tution even after he was caught with his pants (down? or Down Under?) fooled of money, and his defence was he couldn'tundersatnd the blardy Aussie Ingeris immigerasi forma!

Today's Post is special in that I start from the nigh-end, with a Footnote, translated into BM as Notakaki.:) I am trying out my rusty so that RPK might intrude here to correct, correct, and crrect! my Bahasa Malaysia. Or my English which is so-so, which also looks like 50-50, which in mathematical terms, means borderline.

Why am I digressing so much? This Sundae' s Rumination allows this writHer that privilege, and a Blogger normally abuses his AP. Hence if thou art not a Blogger, nyet, come join the B.Bandwagon -- abuse the medium then, not thy neighbour. Holy cow, what do you think Desi's. My neighbour is not a "sad pipe" -- that one, if he enters my Abode, I will wring his/her neck. "Her" is added to be fair to all genders as Desi believes in sexual equality, or is it equality of the sexes? Never mind, English is very de complicated. Have you heard some Oz blokes speak Englaise? "You came hear to die?" their firendly Immigration officers greet Thee with a s-mile and so the double Muhammad thought he could get in RM2.4million to invest in Australia, and his Datukship granted him immunity from check-in,or check-up,or check-out. Whatever, Desi's all lost at sea after writing 1,300 words to show RPK I was on par with him in "bragging and bullshiting" in Form 1.

Thanks to the King of Bloggers for giving me blanket permit (not the AP of RM20k-gen kind!:( to reproduce his Posts, so here's something plucked about MCA running dogs of UMNO... You lazy-bummers, I ain't thy servant to give you the Real McCoy, just the Notakaki, go read malaysia-day.net to be educate in fool :


FOOTNOTE
By the way, today’s article is not as long as my normal pieces, which would run into five-seven pages. Many readers posted complaints in the blogs saying that my pieces are too long and touch on too many issues at the same time; so they find it very hard to comprehend what my message is.
Many blame the writer, meaning me, for not being able to transmit the ‘right’ message, although I would rather blame the Malaysian education system -- because we had to write pages upon pages of comprehension pieces when we were in lower secondary school. The English teacher would give us one incomplete sentence of one line and we would have to complete that sentence with 1,800 words. So I suppose, since the age of 13, we had been ‘trained’ to take just one word or one sentence and make a thesis out of it.
Anyway, for the sake of those who are not able to juggle many issues in their head at the same time, dissect all the many issues, deliberate the pros and cons of each issue, and then come their own conclusions based on the arguments presented, maybe they should stick to reading this column, THE CORRIDORS OF POWER.
Those who enjoy being provoked, love playing the Devil’s Advocate, and get a turn on with debating (I don’t mean insult, scold, rant or rave), then they can continue reading NO HOLDS BARRED, which will tear into issues, rip your brains apart, and result in you pulling your hair out.
I understand that there are many types of Malaysians and that MALAYSIA TODAY must cater to all levels of the population. We have the preset minds -- people who have already formed an opinion even before they start reading anything. Then there are the open minds -- people who are prepared to listen to all sides of the argument. We also have the ‘fence-sitters’ -- people who would rather wait-and-see and make a decision based on who can offer the best argument. Then we have the setuju group -- people who will agree to everything that a writer says even if the writer says one thing one day and the opposite another day (which I sometimes deviously do) because they do not have a mind of their own. We also have the tak setuju group -- people who will disagree with everything the writer says because they just love disagreeing or because they don’t like the writer so they will simply disagree regardless whether the writer is right or wrong.
I suppose this should be taken as positive and therefore a reflection that MALAYSIA TODAY has a very wide and diverse readership. But it can of course also be very difficult when preparing a ‘single item menu’ as some love certain things while others may not.Anyway, debate on readers.(See, even the footnote is almost a thesis).

____________ End of fruit plucked from MT:) __________________

Now here cometh some re-cycled stuff as Desi, as I told you -- Yesterday, when all my troubles seemed so far away! -- I am a fervent lover of the ENVIRONMENT, hence I re-cycle. Words, and words are all I have, to take your heart away... I don'tknow how these two song lines are relevant. What TH! This is my Blog,i f you don'tlike it, especially if thou be a sad pipe, go away back into that orifice where the sun don't shine. (Strictly speaking, the "sun", being singular noun/subject, should be followed by "doesn't", being singular verb. But What TH2! Ours is not to question why, ours is but to do and die. Actually I checked Lord Tennyson's last Sundae, the Ori says "reason", not 'question', but none of my ER caught on to my mis-quote. Maybe no one read my Post!more probable reason, What TH3!:(


desiderata.enlglish

Reprising an olde Post to compare wit' Yesterday's, keading off, from NST (print edition is from Page 8), but following is Cut&Paste from:
NST Online » Local News
2008/04/19

Courses for teachers may go English

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein says radical and bold steps must be adopted to enhance the mastery of the English language

PUTRAJAYA: Training programmes for teachers at colleges and universities may use the English language as the medium of instruction.
The Education Ministry is also considering revamping the school curriculum and introducing English Literature to enhance English proficiency among students and teachers.
Its minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said radical and bold steps needed to be adopted to enhance the mastery of the language, especially among primary schoolchildren.
He said it was agreed at a post-cabinet meeting that the curriculum should be revamped quickly."Changes to the curriculum must be consistent so that students have no restrictions or problems in improving their English.
"However, this needs to be studied by the experts but to me, personally, I want to see our primary schoolchildren have a fair command of the language. This is not impossible as even at the primary level, our children are able to understand Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil and Arabic well," he said after chairing his ministry's post-cabinet meeting yesterday.
Hishammuddin stressed that he would not compromise on the need to enhance proficiency of the language among students.
"At the post-cabinet meeting, we were unanimous that more radical approaches should be used."
Hishammuddin also said that the decision on whether to continue with the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English would be known by the end of the year.
"A decision will be made based on the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (Primary School Assessment Test) results." Hishammuddin said the decision would have to be in line with the national education policy.
"The decision must be based on facts and reality, not presumptions or emotions."Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said recently that an assessment would be carried out to determine whether teaching of the Science and Mathematics in English would be retained.

*******************************************
Ah, finally Desi's own thoughts, from my archives still with me because one moo_t has not managed to get a buyer off me at 20million:(

Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Some common sense on ENGLISH, finally!

I was gladdened by today's NST page one leap jumping at me as I sip my teh tarik and mee-soup:'We should not be shy to say English is a Malaysian language' -- Hishamuddin

If our Government ministers and officials play less politics and concentrate on the our national problems and issues, DESIDERATA may weep less over this channel, along with many of Desi's EsteemedReaders, and gladly surrender their tears to hopes and laughter.
EDUCATION Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein, his arms around students of Kuala Lumpur's SMK Taman Medan as they browse through the New Straits Times, urges them to regain mastery of the language.
This, Hishamuddin said, would be vital in assuring their future prospects. "Our children must understand that they should and can learn English. They have every right to excel in it." (Emphasis is mine.)

Desiderata salutes the honourable minister's visionary statement. It acknowledges the reality that language is just a tool, and the English language is an excellent tool as an international lingua franca in this Internet and Information Age as well as a Globalised World. (Read August 12's LANGUAGE, EXQUISITE AND PROFANE.)
Malaysia lost a "whole generation" of English-proficient citizens when the language was demoted to no-man's land in the hierarchy of things to replace the medium of instruction in schools and tertiary institutions with Bahasa Malaysia. At one time, Malaysians ranked among Indians, Singaporeans, and even the British, as speakers and participants at international forums and United Nations bodies.
Desiderata felt that in one fell swoop, the best heritage left us by the colonial masters became a near fossilised relic beginning in the early 1970s until wisdom came back lately into Malaysian leaders' minds. Well, better late than never, I guess.I was serving at a foreign diplomatic mission in Kuala Lumpur for some 12 years in the 1980s/90s and even during that time, the then Foreign Minister had lamented that Malaysian diplomats abroad were no more at the forefront of speaking up at international fora. The reason -- most of them felt inadequate communicating in English -- even at evening receptions on the diplomatic circuits, Malaysians lost their edge because of this language deficiency.
The then FM GHAZALI SHAFIE or "King Ghaz" as commonly called, held court at many international forums -- not only because of his intellect, but because his English language was exquisite, and superb. I might disagree with some of his politics, but I must give him credit where it's due in this Department. Well, our present Prime Minister too, but his is less dynamic, and his oratorical skills paled in comparision with that King!Maybe just mayhaps,in 20 years' time started three years ago when English was being given emphasis in schools again, Malaysia may catch up with its neighbour -- SINGAPORE -- in using English on the international stage again, with prominence and confidence -- whether promoting tarde, tourism or cultural exchange.
Whethe one likes it or not, the Intenet is dominated by the English language as the main medium of communication. Yes, reality sucks sometimes, and it is nothing to do with nationalism or patriotism, just in case some quarters may start throwing tantrums here and there. We need to master English to be competitive again on the world marketplace, as well as playing a more influential role in the diplomatic arena, Muslim, non-Muslim, Western, Eastern or Mid-Eastern, or even in Eskimo land.
Even China the awakened dragon has latched on! Well, as for India, it has already produced a few Nobel laureates writing in that language.Hishamuddin, I'm right there with you on being not shy about claiming English as "our own language."Bahasa Malaysia, as the national language, will always have its premium place in our hearts. Let no Malaysians use this yardstick to measure patriotism or hold it against any fellow Malaysian.
Patriotism is to advance Our Country -- "NEGARAKU, TANAH TUMPAHNYA DARAHKU..." -- it's not about flag-waving alone, though this has a role to play, or singing the National Anthem, at the right place, at the right time. It's winning the hearts and minds of ALL MALAYSIANS young and old, makcik, pakcik, across gender, colour and creed. And this cultivation of Love for Country must start from childhood, starting them young is the best, for that's the age when language learning and grasping is the most natural and flowing -- swimmingly? -- and for once, I see COMMON SENSE RULES.
There is hope yet for MY COUNTRY, YOUR COUNTRY, OUR COUNTRY. Desi is affected by National Day spirit just 15 days away.
PS: I still have three slots for that SERIES OF ESSAYS CHALLENGE on "THE MALAYSIAN DILEMMA" -- any takers? I plan for SEVEN, strating on August 25, with one each day examining an aspect or two of the Malaysian Dilemma. How about it, mGf and myGf-to-B?Update: Sabrina Tan has sent in two articles, Young kyels has one, and desi is hatching one, which makes it the FamousFour. Three teh tariks or more for another THREE, ANYONE?
Posted by desiderata at 3:30 AM

One Distinguished BUM2008 Speaker...

Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid

Now that the Judicairy is hogging the media limelight, I reprise here an item from last year's ...yes, from an Mainstream Media (MSM,) so one cannot totally boycott the MSM, but I digress.

My main point is that one of the esteeemed BUM2008 Speakers is Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid, and one of my buddies, Capt Yusof Ahmad aka Ancient Mariner, who resides at http://cyusof.blogspot.com/ was the one responsible for lasso-ing this ex-Judge to speak on May 1, 2008 at the Lake View Club. "Thanks, Saudara Syed Ahmad, for accepting our humble Invite!:) " on behalf of BUM2008 Organising Committee. ~~ Desi

So if you want to hear it "from the horse's mouth", sign up now for BUM2008 by investing RM50 for a fun-D Do by the Lake -- described by some as the HAP Blogger's Event of the Year!

_____________________________________________
From The Star:

Wednesday May 23, 2007

I’ll do it again, says ex-judge who blew whistle on corruption
By SHAILA KOSHY

KUALA LUMPUR: Former High Court judge Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid, who resigned after a 33-page letter on corruption in the judiciary was circulated 11 years ago, said yesterday he would “do it again, but differently.”

“But I want to clear something up: I did not distribute the letter to the public.
“I sent it to seven people and one of them must have printed copies and distributed them,” he said at a public lecture titled Addressing Corruption in Malaysia organised by the International Institute of Public Policy and Management at Universiti Malaya.

Syed Ahmad said this when asked whether he would do the same today if he were still a judge.
“I was trying to get the Government to realise there was a problem and the need to address it.”

“Life has been hard (since his resignation) but at least I’m still alive unlike in some other countries where informers are killed,” said Syed Ahmad, who made it public last year that he was the author of the letter.

In 1996, Syed Ahmad resigned and there was no prosecution.

Although he was never officially identified as the author, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, then Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, had told Parliament: “Everyone already knows that only one judge has resigned.”

Asked later at a press conference how he would do things differently since there are still no laws today to protect whistleblowers or for the public to have access to information that could substantiate allegations of corruption, particularly in light of the authorities maintaining that his allegations had been investigated and proven untrue, Syed Ahmad said: “If that’s what they say, I can’t say anything more. The government machinery is very strong.”

He commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the government’s campaign to combat corruption.

DESIDERATA: While the Government under Pak Lah had taken the first, but significant, steps towards making redress acknowledging wrongs had been done to former Lord President Tun Salleh Abas and five "brave ones" (as I term it in one of my own writes...), I hope logically, the same or similar redress is extended to Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid! Soon.

UPDATEd @12.44PM, after an interview with Sin Chew features writer Sdr SK CHIN on cloudy, not so sunny Saturdae,but just 24 from my Sundae Rumination, which is good for my soul; I don't care about yours, for it's truly each to his/her own.

I am a believer in Re-Cycling, here here cometh another piece spied at a Companion Essay to some funny Anthology of poems called Midnight Voiz in the plural, or sumthin', reprised wit' no authority, cos Desi is also a habitual stiller in the steal of the night!:(

When I was not yet convinced of the Cause of just deposed DPM Anwar Ibrahim and then his Reformasi movement was in its infancy, one Max Ehramann's disciple penned this shallow reflection:

__________________________________________

Dr. Mahathir’s 22-year as helmsman of Malaysia has also seen the country through many good, and bad, and ugly, times. The most tumultuous event would, in my humble opinion, be the “sacking of Anwar Ibrahim” as the deputy premier and as deputy president of UMNO, which was followed by a series of “strange events” in the courts, and in the streets of Kuala Lumpur. For me as a journalist, these events amounted to what I’d term as “rude awakenings”; but there was not much room for putting down in words one’s feelings of bewilderment and outrage at these events. Most just watched with a sense of resignation at the unfolding drama; many termed it as “sandiwara” (Malay opera), but these “shows” at least stirred many Malaysians from their life-goes-on-as-usual life-style. For once, many became more politically conscious, if not active, and they asked questions, if not in public, at least at the teh-tarik stall or higher class coffee-house, or at their favourite water-hole. People began to wonder what’s happening, and where are we, as a nation, headed? Featured here is one poem composed during these interesting times, relating to the then unfolding, mainly political, events:

It Gets Curiouser and Curiouser

When I was young I was told
Spinning a story you must be bold
But it still must have a beginning
And an ending, and somethin’ in between
But lately my motherland
Gave birth to very strange events
The cycle was like a record
Being played out from the end
Remember Michael Jackson’s video clip
When uprooted trees regained their standing stature
Dried up safari land became green pastures
And elephant carcasses stood majestically alive again

It gets curiouser and curiouser
As was observed in Alice in Wonderland
And events in Malaysia the past decade
Closely mirror Lewis Carroll’s rich imaginings
The story purportedly started in September 1998
As many Anwarists would want you to believe
That Reformasi was galvanized
When the deputy PM was excised from the head
But my friends, be reminded
It was way back on a May Day in ‘88
When the court sat on a holy day
A panel of junior judges sacked their chief
Salleh Abas Lord President was dismissed in a jiffy
But then DPM Anwar Ibrahim held his tongue
A decade later with one fell swoop
Anwar became a lauded victim in the vicious loop
Reformasi Anwar started, his loyalists proclaim
They forgot Salleh and his Brave Ones
Who stood their ground for justice
They indeed were the unheralded Originals
Reformation is not only taking to the streets
It’s changing of the mindset

What became of the Judiciary following Salleh?
It was downhill all the way…
It led the country’s leading judicious mind
The late Tun Suffian Hashim to lament in 2000:
“I wouldn’t like to be tried by today’s judges,
Especially if I am innocent.”*

*Quoted from a speech on March 10, 2000 that the former Lord President delivered at a Bar commemoration for the late Justice Tan Sri Wan Sulaiman.

One footnote I’d add here is that many Malaysians have short memories, including so called Anwar’s supporters who only cried “foul” when their leader was deemed to have been unfairly treated by the authorities, going through the motion of some court proceeding, followed by jail terms. But did they ever ask: when the judges were sacked about a decade earlier, and Anwar was part and parcel of the Government (first as Finance Minister, then as Deputy Prime Minister), did he raise any protest when “injustice” befell the former Lord President and five fellow judges? There is a saying, “What goes around, comes around”, which many of the country’s politicians must take heed of, if they do have a conscience.

______________________________________

Sleep thee well, those "Brave Ones" who have departed. And to those still blessed to be with us still, have faith, God is Great. Belatedly, some justice is finally delivered. Salleh did say: "I am happy. I feel vindicated."

Bless Thee All,
Malaysians who stood tall
There are more
Quietly doing their duty
Because it's the right thing to do
Not because of national honours
Or that the Government would bestow
A Tan Sri, a Datukship
What's all these worth
If an Individual is robbed unjustly of his Dignity?

I:
S:
A: men

2020 Vision -- Get Back to Work

When I saw in the Emails the Headline Above, not down under, from NEWS.com.au -- yes, I have a soft sport for all things Oz! Its generous government paid my wages for 13 short years, remember? -- I thought NegaraKu caught the eyes of the matey media of another Lucky Country!:):)
Yes, I deem Malaysia and Australia God-blessed, with endless sunshine above, and white and black beaches and beautiful people sen-surround, and untold mysterious treasure chests of minerals down under. And off ts azure waters from like our of The Deep (Still remember Jacqueline Bisset?) and Jaws (steal remember white shark!).

Here's the minding the store story that my friend Ancient Mariner blogged about two days/dies ago:

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A Confessional ? Had lunch with my hometown friend Desiderata Chong at Lingam's (yes, thats right) Curry House today in Seremban. He suggested that perhaps its a "confessional" of sorts that the NST (no, not the New Shit Times) front paged its editorial with the banner headline 'Get on with the job" today."Enough is enough," it said. Very strange coming from the UMNO owned rag.Read the editorial in full and readers' comments, here.I rather thought that its a bit late in the day now that the Barisan Nasional's nightmares have just begun.
Logged by The Ancient Mariner at 16:57 3 comments

DESIDERATA: Yes, please read the full story -- the UMNO guys represented by UMNO-organ NST actually confessed it has been a 'hole series of wayang and sandiwara! And I share my salty sailor boyz'2almostgiantofaman's view It could be a classic case of Bolting the stable's gate after the horse has bolted! But this expression may not be understood if you have now an ex-MB just rebirthed as a Minister in Pak Lah's diehardCabinet who could not -- yes, self-confessed in a kangaroo court?! -- fill in properly the Oz Immigration form.


Now the Aussie version which mis'-led Desi to believe those fair-dinkum blokes careth so much about UMNO-oh-No's cuntfessional! (the BOLDED part is mine, not Capt Yusof eh!)

An article from The Daily Telegraph:

2020 vision - get back to work and stay there

April 18, 2008 06:42pm

MOTHERS and grandparents will be encouraged to get back into the workforce and the retirement age could be pushed back under a plan to deal with an ageing population.

A landmark report, outlining a plan to help today's 30-year-olds, will be presented by New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma to the 2020 Summit this weekend. Experts predict that, without an action plan to keep Generation X and the baby boomers working and healthy, the NSW Budget will be in a $14bn per year deficit by 2030.

Crayfish dinners: Ideas that didn't make the 2020 cut Blogocracy: Readers put forward their 2020 ideas
The Towards 2030 report suggests more than 300,000 people who would otherwise retire should stay working. It then warns that the number of people in NSW aged over 100 will go from 1300 today to 7800 by 2030.

Mr Iemma said the 30-year-olds of today could be facing retirements lasting 20 to 30 years and said he would be using the report to lean on the Federal Government for more resources. "The demographic challenge, especially its financial impact, is immense," Mr Iemma said. "Closing that fiscal gap will require a sustained effort to keep government spending in check and, most importantly, a greater willingness by the Commonwealth to share its considerable resources with the states."

The report states that there are currently about 331,000 people in NSW who are near retirement age and who were not in the workforce - a number that the State Government is expecting will only increase unless mature-age workers are encouraged to stay employed.

And the report says there are nearly three million Australians who could be working but are not, particularly men aged 25 to 54 and mothers aged 25 to 44.

Caroline Nikiforidis, 29, of Earlwood said she and her husband hoped to retire early but were prepared that they would probably have to work for longer than the current retirement age. "It's definitely going to get harder," Ms Nikiforidis said. "I think, if the Government introduced paid maternity leave it would give women more opportunities, it's beneficial for workers because they know they'll have a job they can rely on and it's better for careers because it give more stability."

DESIDERATA: Just to spice up thy day, especially those in the search for happiness -- like Max Ehrmann and hisGOoDfriend (hGf) Desi do da day! -- here's a snippet:)

~~ Inter:nude: after a break fromBlogger.com-- the usual after installing IE Version se7en, unlucky break! -- I logged back in, and the information at dashboard says: Post 2020. What a coincidence. Hey, you punters, BUT-lah a few BIG and a few small, something's icy hanging on de Wall! 's ice-scream-lah, wahtelse! Send Desi bucketfools,OK! ~~

From theSun, page 14, according to a Reuters report, you wanna join the bandwagon in search of another elusive dream, then follow Desi to Chicago, knot Texas:)

People become happier with age: Survey

CHICAGO: Happiness increased along
with age, according to findings from a
three-decade-long US survey released
on Wednesday. Between 15% and 33%
of 18-year-old Americans were likely to
say they were very happy, with women
happier than men and whites happier
than blacks, based on findings from
the survey conducted bewteen 1972
and 2004.

The older epople got, the more
likely they were to report being
happy, with slightly more than half of
respondents in their 80s saying they
were very happy.

:)
:)
:)
Now my dear mGf, art thou ap, AP, ap?

IF KNOT, join the BUMmers @
bum2008-desiderata.blogspot.com:(