IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Finally, this blog has MOVED!

My new homepage will be Foong Speaks Her Mind and for Penang news, you can go to this site: Penang Views and News.

Due to the new domain and Wordpress platform, I am still trying to figure out most of the Wordpress stuff and etc...So, please be patient if you find the blogs lacking...I am working at making it more presentable!

However, I will be blogging from there starting NOW!

So, go on over to my brand new sites:

Foong Speaks Her Mind

AND

Penang Views and News

Next time go dating, ask permission first before you touch!

So a guy hugged and tried to kiss his girlfriend while on a date. The girl, for some reasons known only to her, rejected it eventhough he is her boyfriend but he probably didn't take no for an answer and continued with the hugging.

Luckily, she broke away and ran off to tell her brother who promptly brought reinforcement to catch the guy. They sent the amorous man to the police station and lodged a police report that he had molested his girlfriend.

I don't know...it sounds a bit strange that they are actually a couple and the guy was sent to jail for not accepting the fact that ice princess do not like being touched. Maybe its because the girl is only 19 and the guy is 29 and a rubber tapper at that. Maybe she thinks he is going too fast. Or maybe, she is trying to break off and he tried to persuade her otherwise.

Or were there underlying reasons behind all this? I guess we will never know... What we know is that it never pay to be too amorous, eh? So, guys listen up! Don't take the liberty to touch here touch there thinking your girlfriend won't mind. There are laws in this country and she may have your horny ass hauled in for molest if she doesn't like it! Ask properly and you shall not pay for it this way.

Now, back to the story. The guy got five months jail and today in High Court, where he had appealed against the sentence, the judge was scornful of the other judge who passed the sentence.

"Like this, people dare not go dating anymore," the judge reportedly said.

So, the judge reduced the guy's sentence and fined him RM1,500 instead.

Wah...RM1,500 he could even pay for two hours with the maths genius hooker in UK! And that is not only confined to touchy-feely all but the whole works!

Tsk..tsk..tsk... Although it may seem a mere slap on the wrist to those earning a lot, to this rubber tapper guy who is earning RM200 a month, it is 7 months of pay! Besides, if he can't pay it, he will have to spend 3 months in jail.

So, the moral of this story is, respect thy women be it girlfriends, sisters, mothers, cousins, grandmothers, etc for hell hath no fury than an angry woman out for vengeance!

Women power rules! Mwahahahaha...

Update:

Here's the full article from Star online:

Judge: Five months’ jail for hugging girlfriend is extreme

By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG

PENANG: A High Court judge found that the five-month sentence imposed on a rubber tapper for outraging the modesty of his girlfriend by hugging and kissing her as unwarranted because of the couple’s relationship.

“No one would dare to go dating again with such an excessive punishment, given the relationship. No man would want to ask our anak dara (young women) out anymore.

“This is the reality of life,” said Justice Abdul Rahim Uda

He was hearing an appeal by Mohamad Roslan Zainol, 29, against his conviction and sentence for outraging the modesty of an 18-year-old girl by hugging her at a beach in Telok Molek, Teluk Air Tawar, North Seberang Prai, at 9.30pm on Nov 29 last year.

According to the statement of facts, Mohamad Roslan was the girl’s boyfriend and they had sought shelter under a tree when it began to rain.

He then tried to kiss her and hugged her tight several times, but she struggled free and ran off.

The girl’s brother later took Mohamad Roslan to a police station and lodged a report.

A magistrate’s court in Butterworth had on Dec 3 last year jailed Mohamad Roslan five months after he pleaded guilty to the offence. His family later got him a lawyer and he was allowed stay of execution on the jail term pending the appeal.

Yesterday, Justice Abdul Rahim Uda said the sentence was unwarranted because of the couple’s relationship.

DPP Muna Mohamed Jaafar, who seemed to agree with the judge that the five-month jail term was excessive, said Mohamad Roslan had to be given appropriate punishment as a lesson for him and to those inclined towards such action.

Justice Abdul Rahim dismissed Mohamad Roslan’s appeal against his conviction, but allowed his appeal against his sentence.

In mitigation, Mohamad Roslan’s counsel A. Premanand said his client had repented and promised not to repeat such offences.

Justice Abdul Rahim fined Mohamad Roslan RM1,500 in default three months’ jail.

Update on the abandoned boy case

With all that Datuk Lee Kah Choon episode, I am sure many people have forgotten about the 10-year-old boy, Yeap Jia Hui, who was left to stay alone for the past two years.

For those of you in the dark about this, I wrote about his case here and here.

Since all the MSM is too busy chasing after Kah Choon and the stupid ministers who were in town recently, I decided to check up on what's happening with the poor boy.

So, thanks to my very reliable sources, I found out that the boy is now staying with his grandmother temporarily.

Meanwhile, the exco in charge, Phee Boon Poh, is making sure that the Welfare Department is doing its job to settle all the documentations for the boy to be legally adopted by his grandaunt.

This is the process for now:

1. Welfare Department is preparing assessment reports on the grandaunt to make sure she can be the legal guardian for the boy (and not another adult out to make labourers out of children or some other more sinister things..)

2. The reports will be brought to court for a court order to grant the grandaunt the rights to be the boy's legal guardian and take care of him

3. Court decides and grant the order

4. Boy can legally move in with the grandaunt in Kuantan.

5. Welfare Department here will liaise with Welfare Department there to check on the boy occasionally to ensure that the boy is being well taken care of by the grandaunt - my guess is that normally they won't be bothered but with Phee Boon Poh breathing down their necks, they probably has to do it!

6. The boy will also be sent for professional counseling as he had suffered quite a lot of emotional trauma (of being left to fend for himself) so that he learns how to cope with all this.

Now, I have read somewhere that the boy is not a 'good, studious boy who does his homework' as reported by the MSM. Apparently the boy smokes and sometimes even ponteng school. I strongly feel that it is not the boy's fault at all. Hey, he is only 10!

He was abandoned when he was 8. So how many 8-year-old do you know who are responsible and know the difference between right and wrong without an adult to keep him in check?

So, criticisms against the boy is totally unwarranted. A child is born innocent and pure until he was corrupted by his environment and surroundings. We, as outsiders, would never know what type of environment or surroundings the boy went through in all his 10 years' life. We would never know what type of people or influences he was exposed to. We would also never know the psychological effects of being left alone to fend for himself for two years on a young child like him.

If you really want to criticise, the blame should be on the adults, the people who produced him and left him. They may have their reasons but to me, it is unforgivable for a parent to abandon their own child no matter what.

As a parent, I would rather die than leave my child to fend for himself at such a young age. If only every parent, fathers and mothers, can be like the father in the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, (acted by Will Smith and his son), we won't have anymore abandoned children in this world!

Changes on the way...

In order to serve you better (HAH!), this site is changing and will be moving home to its very own domain very, very soon.

Well, actually, honestly, it is not to serve you better but to give me more headaches trying to figure out Wordpress and its plugins and widgets from hell....heheheh...

So, lookout for a brand new Penang Views and News site coming up near you. You can access and read it anywhere, everywhere and anytime as long as you have internet connection!

Oh, you can already do that now...

What's so different, you ask? Err... I dunno la. Been reading around other blogs and some auntie keep harping on how great it is to have own domain and etc and how great her hosting company is that I rushed and immediately signed up with Bryan.

What to do, I am a typical kiasu Penangite mah.

So, due to the pindah rumah, I may not be posting as much entries the next few days because I will be too busy struggling with Wordpress. Besides, all the MPs (including CM) are out of town in Parliament so probably not much going on in the political scene locally...

Remember, keep a lookout for the brand new, shinier website coming up soon!

Eating fish in a jungle

We took a trip to the depths of an oil palm estate somewhere near the Kulim Hi-Tech Park and enjoyed some really great freshwater fishes!

We ate FOUR whole fishes! Each fish costs between RM20 and RM38. Not bad considering the size and how fresh it is.



I don't know what fish these are except that it is freshwater and darn fresh and very delicious, deep fried, covered in sweet and sour sauce and steamed.


The shack that passed as a restaurant where the delectable fishes are cooked and served.


There's a wooden rickety bridge from the shack over a bubbling river heading to large ponds where they rear the freshwater fishes.


A closer look at the wooden shack...

The fishes are really good and I would recommend this place if you have a hankering for fish. Also, the fishes are all very sweet without any muddy taste at all.

Rating: 8/10

Price: RM20 and above for each fish

Menu choices: Only fish, rice and one or two vegetables

Location: Sungai Kob, Kulim. Accessible through a small dirt road marked with only a small signboard with Restoran Kolam Ikan on it. Just take the turning to Kulim Hi Tech Park Phase 2, drive all the way to Sungai Kob and once you reach the tiny town, you will see Petronas on your left and right after that a row of shophouses. The small dirt road is on the right and right next to the Klinik Kesihatan. Otherwise, call the number in the picture above for more accurate directions!

One stupid minister after another

It seems like stupid ministers are drawn to Penang like bees to honey as the fella who purportedly have some control over our money was also in town right after the dyke came and left after making some unsavoury announcements which involved a certain travel-happy fat lady.

Looks like the ministers are out to show and prove that Penangites do not matter to them regardless of the fact that the PM happens to be from Penang too. They are out to sabotage the Penang tourism and upcoming infrastructures.

First, the costs of the second bridge suddenly soared (I wonder why...must the infuriating fact that the prices for equipments like screwdrivers costs thousands now) so it has to be delayed and then the announcement that the MRT and PORR may not go on. All these just because Penangites chose to vote for Pakatan Rakyat.

Well, too bad to Nor Mohd Yakcop. I think many people would be celebrating that PORR may not be built! Hurray.

An another note, anyone wondered if Kerismuddin is even serious about his apology for wielding the keris and then make no promises that it won't happen again?

Then there are the calls for Sleepy Pak Lah to really go home and sleep instead of snoring in parliament and for Kerismuddin to get lost for something he has apologised for but didn't promise not to repeat.

All this finger-pointing and calls to this or that seems so very childish, don't you think? Methinks it is the internal party elections heating up, making everyone jittery and thus everyone shooting their mouths off without thinking.

All this fracas just confirmed one thing. Politicians, who are only in politics for their own benefits, are just a bunch of greedy sore-losers out to grab everything they can at the people's expense.

I think it is really time to get rid of ALL of them! Now, where is the big huge penyapu lurking around somewhere?

Illegal stuff and hawker food

I have always been a Pasar Malam stalker...way back when we were dating also, we will go to pasar malam as a dating place, to jalan-jalan, to cari makan, to buy illegal stuffs like pirated things (we all know what things!!), etc...


So, recently, we went up to the Batu Ferringhi Night Market which is famous for all the illegal chio'ng ciplak things. We need to restock our...errr...movie collections...You know la, Heroes season two is already in, House season four already in and seems like Supernatural season three is on the way. These are my favourite series la and I don't have time to wait for stupid Astro.

Also, we have missed so many movies such The Water Horse, Alvin and The Chipmunks and even Transformers. Ever since having my toddler, it is difficult to find time to go pakthor and watch movies....so we go for cheaper, easier option of home theatre la.

Of course, the Batu Ferringhi Night Market offers a lot of other things and not only the...errr..entertainment stuff. They have trinkets, decor items, chio'ng branded handbags, chio'ng branded clothes and more decor items.


It was not easy trying to take pictures of the stalls there because the stall operators are mostly very hostile. Perhaps they are worried about being caught 'red-handed' with pictures of them selling chio'ng things...


As you can see, we stick to taking pictures of things that are not chio'ng at all....Just no-brand things, some local, some made in Thailand and some Made in China.

Now, along that stretch, there is Long Beach Cafe which offers local hawker fare. It is also quite near my favourite..err..chio'ng entertainment stall. Eh, the stall sell very cheap you know! Only RM4 each and the quality, VERY GOOD. Always no problem with the err...things.

Choices: 8/10

Quality: 8/10

Price: 9/10


Here's Long Beach Cafe along the Batu Feringghi Night Market. See the Spring Roll stall? That's my favourite! Their spring roll is very good.

Review of Spring Roll: Crunchy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside. The vegetables inside are nicely cooked and tasty. It goes very well with the sauce consisting of cut chillies and Lea & Perrins sauce.

Price: A bit pricey for a single spring roll, RM3 each.

Rating: 7/10


There are a lot of other stalls there selling a variety of hawker fare. Some are good, some are not. I have not tried all so can't give any ratings on that. The prices are quite reasonable considering it being a tourist spot. A plate of food could be priced from between RM3 and RM5 depending on what you order.

Oh, there is also a stall selling presumably Haagen Daaz ice cream at RM7 a scoop. Well, trust me, it is ice cream but it is definitely NOT Haagen Daaz! It taste nothing like Haagen Daaz! It is either they use some other higher quality ice cream to pass it off as Haagen Daaz or it old stock taken at a cheaper price from Haagen Daaz, thus the taste a bit out.

The stupid minister opens her mouth again and syok sendiri

So, the minister Azalina Othman was in town and gave some really strange, if not stupid, announcements....

Looks like she has appointed the person who screwed up tourism in the state in the past to be the chairman of Penang Tourism Action Council. Now, I am sure, all of you know Mdm Kee Phaik Cheen?

That woman is known to make long, long trips overseas in the pretext of promoting Penang and come back with expensive, designer items for herself. Ahhh...we all know who benefited the most from her trips, it was definitely NOT Penang!

So, now she is back. I guess, PTAC is in very good hands and will be organising more trips overseas huh?

Then the new tourism minister started babbling about getting rid of syok sendiri programmes in the country.

Wah, minister, we know you always do things syok sendiri but why lah you start potong stim for others who want to syok sendiri?

She seemed to think that certain tourism events are merely 'syok sendiri' so the ministry will no longer support nor organise such events.

"We are only interested in major events which bring in foreign tourists and benefit the whole industry." she reportedly said.

Ah, so. And who is the expert to know which programme bring in tourists and which does not?
Don't tell it's the minister who blew millions on a facility to 'train' Malaysian footballers in UK?

Oh right. That incident was a mistake and this time she has supposedly wised up by:

1.Cutting off the tourism action councils of five states from the state government

2. Announce new chairmen, who may or may not be good, for the councils

3. Announce no support for any tourism events except those sanctioned by her...err..the ministry with a 'syok sendiri' rating as the judging factor.

So, how do you see the tourism industry in Penang in future? Well, looks like the state's soon to be formed Penang Tourism Council will have to work doubly hard to promote tourism events, syok sendiri or otherwise, and raise their own funds. The dyke has spoken in no uncertain terms that there will not be any support from the federal.

Meanwhile, PTAC will probably become what it used to do before Teng Chang Yeow took over in 2004 and turned it around a bit. It will now serve as nothing but a front for Kee to travel worldwide to shop...err...promote Penang. As for funding channeled through PTAC, the state can probably say goodbye to all that and they are better off raising their own funds.

The fat lady has sung and she ain't parting with her money till 'she is certain that it is spent properly' - meaning masuk someone's pockets lar....

Hmmm....is it me or do I sense a foreboding looming in the horizon especially for the tourism industry in Penang? Sigh, poor tourism exco Danny Law, he has some interesting times ahead of him.

Looking for study options or looking for food?

Well, there's a 'My Career and Education Fair 2008' at Pisa this weekend so if you are thinking of furthering your studies or wondering what you want to be other than being a blogger, head on over to the fair.

I won't know if it's any good because I haven't been to any of these things for ages! I am way beyond help when it comes to education...heheheh

Also, for those hungry ghosts out there, there's a charity food fair coming up this Sunday. It is a two-in-one event. You get to eat and you get to help cancer patients! What a deal. Seriously. Okay, okay, so the eats aren't free but hey, it is to help poor cancer patients and you have to eat right?

So, don't forget to go to:

Ho Chiak Charity Food and Fun Fair 2008

Venue: Mount Miriam Hospital

Date: Sunday, April 27

Time: 10am - 3pm

As a bonus, all of you who wants to meet the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng may get to see him there! I heard he is officiating the fair at 10am.

If you don't know how to go there, just call 04-8907044 for directions. Or check out their website at: www.mountmiriam.com.

Anwar Ibrahim to be Prime Minister on Malaysia Day...or not....

I am wondering if Anwar Ibrahim has other things up his sleeves by making predictions like this one? Every so often, I kept reading that he has the numbers to take over the federal government and he will do it soon.

And now, out of the blue, he names a date. Sept 16 to be exact (read the news below).

I am beginning to doubt that if his words will ever come true. Now, before all the Anwar supporters start throwing stones at me, let me make this clear. I don't mind Anwar being Prime Minister. Heck, he would probably be a better one than the current fumbling mumbling one.

I am beginning to doubt that he is able to take over because all this time, he has said he had the frogs all ready. So, where are they? Why not make the jump now? Why wait for so many other months?

Or were the frogs getting jittery with second thoughts?

I guess all this will unravel in time but in the meantime, doesn't it just bug you that Anwar keeps harping on it but there were no real action?

Taken from The Star:

Anwar: We have the numbers, however, we’re in no rush to replace Barisan

By MUGUNTAN VANAR

KOTA KINABALU: The Opposition coalition of Pakatan Rakyat is in a position to form the federal government and it will be done no later than Malaysia Day which falls on Sept 16, claimed Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Repeating that they have the numbers and were in no rush to replace Barisan Nasional, the former deputy prime minister said yesterday that it would all be in the timing of the announcement.

“God willing, we will be there. If not next month, the following month, then if not June or July, (it will be) on Merdeka (Aug 31) or Malaysia Day. I think we should not go beyond that,” he told reporters on arrival in Sabah.

As to when exactly the announcement will be made, Anwar said discussions with the Pakatan parties were needed because Umno and Barisan were known to be rough on those intending to move.

“They are using threats and intimidation. I am for example being monitored more closely now,” said Anwar, adding that he would not be discussing with the Barisan MPs interested to move while he was in Sabah and Sarawak.

He said he has his way of discussing with Barisan MPs who have given their commitment to team up with Pakatan.

“My discussions could be done in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong although it might sound like a joke,” added Anwar, who thanked the Barisan MPs for their commitment to cross over. He said Pakatan was ready to take in political parties from Barisan if they subscribed to the Opposition coalition agenda for the country.

On Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman’s claim that all state leaders were loyal to Barisan, Anwar said: “He (Musa) must know that he does not have all the members he claims to hold now. If he wants to know, I can meet him privately and tell him.”

He said Sabah and Sarawak MPs were keeping the Barisan afloat but were saddened that they were not given due recognition by Umno, which was dictating terms from Kuala Lumpur.

Anwar said he was not making offers of any monetary kind or of personal positions for anyone crossing over as claimed by Barisan but was here to assure PKR’s commitment to Sabahans in addressing issues ranging from higher royalty to problems of illegal immigrants.

Anwar later spoke to a gathering at a ceramah held at the Hongkod Koissan cultural hall here and is scheduled to fly to Sarawak today.

And so the blame game starts with Keng Yaik going first

Why, why, why won't they just let this whole Datuk Lee Kah Choon-joins-PDC & InvestPenang-quits-Gerakan matter rest?

Just give the man a break la. I mean, you force him to quit your stupid party by giving him a show cause letter and now, you call him an opportunist. What a load of horse manure!

And that old man has the nerve to be angry. Woi, why don't you go back to whatever hellhole you came from and jaga cucu instead of butting your nose where it's not needed?

Read about KY's response here:

From Malaysiakini.com -

Angry Keng Yaik calls Kah Choon an opportunist

Andrew Ong | Apr 24, 08 2:16pm

Former Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik has criticised former protegé Lee Kah Choon for lacking principles by seeking greener pastures with the new Penang Pakatan Rakyat government.

“This young man (Lee) is not willing to struggle anymore. He is trying to take short cuts. Don’t tell me he is not in active politics anymore. He is still very much in it, but now, with a DAP agenda,” he said.

Speaking during a press conference after addressing a forum in Kuala Lumpur today, Keng Yaik dismissed suggestions that Lee’s resignation was a loss for the party.

“No. The sooner you can see the (real) face the better. No principles. No spirit of struggle and wants to take the easy way out,” said Keng Yaik.

Describing himself as a “disappointed and angry old man” over the matter, Keng Yaik said he shouldered the blame for grooming Lee as a prominent leader in the party.

“I’m disappointed and angry because he was picked by me. (Acting Gerakan president Dr Koh) Tsu Koon should not be blamed,” he said.

Lee left the party yesterday following the party’s decision to issue him a show-cause letter for accepting Pakatan’s’ offer to helm InvestPenang and Penang Development Corporation.

Previously, Lee had quit all his party posts, including that of deputy secretary-general, in view of the party’s disastrous performance in Penang in the March 8 polls.

Guan Eng cunning

Keng Yaik said Lee’s appointment to the two posts were glaring examples of how the Pakatan state government lacked capable leaders to run the state.

He described efforts by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to rope in Lee as a form of “poaching” which he also repeatedly described as “froggy politics”.

“And Guan Eng has the gall to say that this is a ‘new era’ of politics. My foot! He is a far more cunning politician than his father or Karpal Singh.

“I don‘t think his father or Karpal would approve of (Guan Eng‘s) effort. This was the kind of things (crossing over) they were shouting (in protest against) when we were in power,” said Keng Yaik.

Incidently, it was reported in the New Straits Times yesterday that Karpal had voiced disapproval of Guan Eng for offering the posts to Lee and that the move was “just not sound”.

And hurray to CM Lim Guan Eng for his ultra cool response to all this shitty shenanigans by the soreloser BN fellas. News also from Malaysiakini:

Penang CM unperturbed by uproar over Lee's appointment

Soon Li Tsin | Apr 24, 08 2:32pm

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today said he had not anticipated any controversy in offering former Gerakan top leader Lee Kah Choon a position to lead the state’s investment agencies.

He added that the Barisan Nasional leaders, including the prime minister and several Gerakan leaders, were acting like sour grapes by objecting to Lee’s decision to take up the appointment as director in the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and InvestPenang on Monday.

Lim, also the DAP secretary general, said that he was not perturbed by these objections, some of which came from within his own party, and will continue to keep welcoming people who share similar philosophy with the state government.

He also said that he never asked Lee to leave Gerakan in order to take up the appointment.

Yesterday Lee said that he was quitting Gerakan as it emerged that the party was contemplating action against him for working with the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

He had previously resigned from all party posts after Gerakan’s annihilation in Penang at the hands of the opposition in the March 8 general election.

Datuk Lee Kah Choon is no longer a Gerakan member!

So, I guess the Gerakan fellas are now happy that Lee Kah Choon has been forced to resign as a member of Gerakan.

What I really do not understand about this whole debacle is the huge pointless fuss over Kah Choon's appointment as a director in InvestPenang and PDC.

He no longer holds any position in Gerakan. FFS! He is only a mere member and the stoolpit party wants to take disciplinary action against him for becoming a director in two corporations??

So, does this mean all Gerakan ordinary members are not allowed to work in the civil service? Hey, they are serving the state government also wat, why not issue show cause letters to them too?

You mean to say from now onwards, the party affiliations of people are more important than their abilities, capabilities and efficiency in helping the development of Penang?

All this crap by the BN losers may make good reading material and even received with glee by observers waiting to see fireworks happen but I feel that it is time for them (the BN) to wise up and mature!

I mean, come on. Use your brain and think. Shouldn't you as political leaders be concentrating on helping the people and the development of the state instead of waddling knee-deep in shit like this?

What is the point of all this furore anyway? What is so wrong about a person extending his hand out to help others or in this case, a capable leader like Lee Kah Choon extending his experience and capabilities to help the state?

So, it is more important for the party to 'save face' is it?

And please, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, you are way out of line to be hitting below the belt by name calling! Calling Lee inexperience is by far the worst thing you could have done!

May I ask you, Dr Koh, were you VERY EXPERIENCED when you took over as Chief Minister all those years ago?

Were you VERY EXPERIENCED when you took over the helm of PDC then?

I do not think so.

So, please, don't throw stones when you live in a glass house and another thing, Lee Kah Choon is a way better man than you ever could be because he graciously turned your criticism around by saying that he will use it to prove you wrong!

I didn't hear him calling you names.

Sigh...the state of maturity of our politicians, except for some Pakatan Rakyat fellas and the few BN fellas (or former BN) like Lee Kah Choon, leaves much to be desired.

When will they ever learn that politics is not about 'I would die for my party' but 'I would die serving the people'?

Tasty Spiced Fried Chicken

Spiced Fried Chicken

All the previous political posts had made me hungry so I binged on these succulent fried chicken! Although I used to be a fan of KFC, I now only eat hawker-style fried chicken or I-fry-it-myself-style fried chicken. Heck, the fried chicken pieces in KFC are shrinking so much I think the next time I go, the fried chicken will be no bigger than my thumb!

So, I went around trying quite a few roadside stalls and hawker stalls at hawker centres selling fried chicken till I find a few that I really like. Which is not many. Somehow, finding the perfect fried chicken is akin to the excuse people use for masturbation - it is better to do it yourself! Heh.



Anyway, I was very, very lazy to de-frost the chicken, season it, heat up the oil, fry it and clean up the whole oily kitchen after that so I had to rely on hawkers to get my fried chicken fix.

Again, TH, my number one foodie partner, recommended this fried chicken stall tucked away at the Hillside Astaka / food court. The guy's open only at night, from around 7pm onwards and sorry, I didn't know what day he tutup since TH is the one who went down to get the chicken for me while I...er...jaga kereta. And being a non-blogger, he didn't bother to ask the guy details, like operation time, days, address, etc...



Anyway, these spiced fried chicken should not be mistaken as the ciplak version of KFC's hot and spicy chicken. When I say spiced, it is in the context of spices, not chili. The fried chicken is crunchy on the outside although it don't look it and the flesh inside is just tender, soft, juicy and oh-so-tasty! Yummmm....

Prices aren't that cheap but it is quite reasonable, RM2 for each piece of chicken breast or wing, RM2.50 for the drumstick and if you are into chicken butt, it is five for RM2.

Rating: 8/10

Taste: Hint of spices, crunchy outside, juicy and soft inside, just salty enough to tingle the tastebuds

Definitely recommended as a side dish to whatever you are having, or just as a snack.

A Word of Warning: Contains fat and probably cholesterol too but for this saliva-inducing taste, I don't care!

The Datuk Lee Kah Choon saga continues with updates...

Latest Update:

Gerakan has issued a show cause letter to Lee Kah Choon to ask him to explain his decision in taking the two posts.

According to former CM Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Lee's actions 'are in contravention with the principle and spirit of this general directive of the party'.

Wah, so it was the principle and spirit of the party NOT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF PENANG lar? Ahhh...now I see the light. No wonder la, Gerakan didn't do shit for Penang!

This show cause letter was as I expected. I wouldn't put it past them sore losers to simply get rid of Kah Choon with flimsy excuses such as this. Everyone knows that Koh has a bone to pick with Kah Choon over some internal party squabbles not long ago.

Also, Kampung Pakcik Pak Lah must be very nyanyuk already as he seemed to either have changed his words or The Star decided to change his words. This is according to this blog entry. Thanks to LC Teh for the link!

AND underneath all this furore over the whole thing, there were rumours flying around that Kah Choon may be joining Pakatan Rakyat as it seemed the two posts he is sitting in were reserved for Pakatan Rakyat member. I don't know the truth of this rumour but I do know that Kah Choon has insisted that he is still a Gerakan member and that's that.

He had also insisted that 'Politics is history for me' so perhaps he is really giving up politics for good and moving into the corporate world. Who really knows?

Original post:

Why won't they just leave well alone? What's done is already done and why the heck must everything be dragged through the political mud? Can't a leader take a stand to serve the people no matter what?

Shiissshhh, it really makes me wonder at the mentality, intelligence and maturity of some of our politicans here.

So, it is quite shocking actually to hear Kampung Pakcik Pak Lah spouting something with more common sense than the likes of Lim Keng Yaik! Just look at the red bold lines of the quoted news from Malaysiakini below.


News From Malaysiakini:

PM: Up to Gerakan to decide on Lee

Andrew Ong | Apr 22, 08 10:37am

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he would leave it to Gerakan to act against its former deputy secretary-general Lee Kah Choon, who has accepted a director’s post in the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and InvestPenang.

Gerakan, a component party in Barisan Nasional (BN), had been leading the Penang government up to the March 8 general election, when it fell into Pakatan Rakyat (PR) hands.

“It is for the party to decide. It is up to Penang BN to do what they want. For me, it’s okay as long as there is no clash in policy,” he said at a brief press conference after attending a function in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Perhaps this opens ways for cooperation (between BN and PR).”

Abdullah, who is also BN chairperson, was commenting on Lee’s acceptance of the offer to join the two key investment development agencies in the Penang government.

Yesterday Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the central committee would convene a meeting on Sunday to discuss Lee’s move.

Lee, formerly the member of Parliament for Jelutong, had resigned from all party posts after Gerakan’s humiliating defeat in Penang in the March 8 general election.

Abdullah’s response today was unexpected, given that his deputy Najib Abdul Razak had told the press yesterday that Lee’s action was “against the spirit of Barisan Nasional”.

Wow, it was almost unbelievable that the PM is talking about ***gasp!!*** cooperation between BN and Pakatan Rakyat!!!

So, will BN take disciplinary action against PM for even daring to voice such a statement which could almost equal to blasphemy????

Oh right. Forgot about the double standards here. It is perfectly alright for them to say whatever they want but for others, it is ISA and a threat to the national security!

On another note, WTF on the piece of news below! Anyone used the Penang bridge recently? The jams are much thicker than any homemade mixed fruit jam in all the world!

So, why the delay with the second bridge?

This really sucks big hairy pigs trotters!

They could have easily cut down the expenditure if they cut down all the middlemen, the middlemen of the middlemen and the coordinator of the middlemen of the middlemen! As with all mega projects, it is mostly over priced due to all this unnecessary commissions and mark-ups to shadows and stuffs....

Also taken from Malaysiakini:

Second Penang bridge delayed?

To another question, Abdullah said “a lot” of projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan are undergoing review.

However, he would not confirm or deny reports that the construction of the second Penang bridge has been delayed for another nine months.

Instead, Abdullah said the federal government is reviewing the bridge design and looking at the increase in the cost of construction materials.

According to The Edge Daily, the cost of the project has ballooned from RM3.6 billion to RM4.3 billion and is being scrutinised by government-appointed consultants.

The report said the new state government, which oversees land matters, wants to bring down the cost to make it cheaper for motorists to use it eventually. This may include a possible realignment of the bridge.

Did Chow Kon Yeow screw up the local council appointments?

I was reading a post (Powerful corporate interests penetrate Penang local councils) over at Anilnetto's blog on the appointment of the councillors for the local councils here and it reminded me of this whole ugly issue.

Initially, I was very reluctant to blog about it coz it seemed like a can of inedible worms that I do not feel like dealing with...however, the way the exco in charge, Chow Kon Yeow, reportedly reacted to all the negativity and criticisms made me change my mind.

He had reportedly said that all this criticisms about the choice of councillors are undermining the state government's efforts. It seemed that all these criticisms (mainly in the Chinese dailies) meant that (according to Kon Yeow) they (the Chinese dailies) are putting undue pressure on the new state government and are not providing the 'support' the state government needs at this early stage.

Furthermore, he compared the current system to the BN system and wondered why nobody complained about the BN's system which does not open up for NGOs at all.

Err...YB Chow Kon Yeow...are you high on drugs or were you just daft or plain stupid?

Weren't you the one to promise 10 councillors post to the NGOs but now there are only 7? And by NGOs, shouldn't you be thinking about a variety of NGOs and not just the business ones? Also, why the secrecy in the selection process?

So, is it so wrong for the public to demand for explanations when you did not fulfill your promises? Is it wrong for the public to demand for 'transparency and accountability', the very things the Pakatan Rakyat has always been harping on?

The people voted for Pakatan Rakyat for a reason and that is to see good and major changes. Not some half-hearted attempt!

Sure, you may say it is only for this term and that you had to rush through the selection process. These are just lame excuses that nobody could swallow.

Just think, your first chance to shine and you blew it, you think the people are just going to let this go?

Just admit that you screwed up this time and you won't do it again and perhaps, the people will be a tad more forgiving. They may even let this go. But no, you had to go on and on about how there are now 7 from NGOs as compared to none previously.

You see, Penangites aren't all that demanding and unforgiving. We aren't all that stupid too. We know how BN run things, you don't have to point that out repeatedly. What we want now is to know how you, the Pakatan Rakyat government, plan to run things.

A promise is a promise. Regardless of whether it is short of 3 or even 1 from the originally promised number of 10, it is still a promise. And didn't DAP always say that it will keep its promises made to the rakyat?

It has only been a month plus since you took over the helm and Pakatan Rakyat is still very green. Why don't you just come clean about how you selected the councillors and let the public be the judge of whether you did this in the interest of the people and council or in the interest of the party?

For isn't transparency and accountability the two main words you, the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat, have been preaching? Where is it now when criticisms and demands for explanations appear?

So, YB Chow Kon Yeow, I hope you have credible answers instead of the lame excuses you gave. It is the only way for you to redeem the respect you lost in this whole debacle.

Datuk Lee Kah Choon is a Superman!

At least, that is what Gerakan's Lim Keng Yaik has called Lee Kah Choon after learning of Kah Choon's appointment as director of PDC and InvestPenang.

Of course, old man Keng Yaik being typical Keng Yaik, he was full of sarcasm over the whole thing and had even wished Kah Choon the best of luck sarcastically. He seemed to think that it is impossible for Kah Choon to remain loyal to Gerakan while serving the Pakatan Rakyat state government, thus the Superman tag.

Well, KY, here's some news for you. Kah Choon is making a decision to serve the people of Penang, NOT Pakatan Rakyat. Is that wrong?

Kah Choon hopes to bring development to Penang for Penangites, NOT because of Pakatan Rakyat. Again, is that wrong?

Just enlighten us, oh former minister, how is it wrong for a strong, capable, intelligent leader to want to serve the people of Penang? He did not become a frog. He did not hop over. He remained as a Gerakan member.

He had even said he planned to be the sole Opposition man within to keep a close eye on the way Pakatan Rakyat runs PDC and InvestPenang. And you think that requires Superman abilities?

It is too bad that the fools and idiots in BN never realised the concept of a Trojan Horse. True, Kah Choon may not be doing this to infiltrate and destroy PDC and InvestPenang but he is indeed going in to keep a watch on them. To ensure they do not do any hanky-panky in there. Surely this is a good way to infiltrate the enemy's base camp? To be amongst them and ensure they do not go wrong and if the moment they make a wrong step, to make it plain and announce to the world.

Now, this is what I call strategy!

You can read all about what Keng Yaik said at the Malaysiakini article I had pasted below (especially for those who do not subscribe to Malaysiakini).

From Malaysiakini:

PDC: Keng Yaik wishes Kah Choon 'best of luck'

Syed Jaymal Zahiid | Apr 21, 08 3:58pm

Gerakan advisor and former president Lim Keng Yaik is, though not showing it, is shocked by former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Lee Kah Choon’s move to accept directorship of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and InvestPenang.

Describing it as a ‘lump in my throat’, Lim, when asked to elaborate further on what he thought of Lee’s move to spearhead PDC which is now under the control of a Pakatan Rakyat government, said that he has ‘only pity’ for the latter.

He, however, also said that he wished Lee the ‘best of luck’.

"Just five days after the general election, Lee requested that I have dinner with him and when I met him, he was telling me of his grand plans to revive the party’s image as well as plans to make the party a watchdog on the new DAP-led state government.

lim keng yaik 02"Now (after his recent move) Lee will face great suspicion from DAP members as he still is a Gerakan member and BN as well as Gerakan will also doubt his loyalty," Keng Yaik (left) told reporters at a hastily-convened press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

Lee surprised both DAP and Gerakan members when he accepted Penang Pakatan Rakyat chief minister Lim Guan Eng’s offer yesterday to helm the PDC. The PDC and InvestPenang are investment development agencies of the state government.

Media reports have quoted Guan Eng as saying that he may be in for heavy criticisms for accepting ‘an enemy into the fortress’ though he added he was ready to explain his move to his party members.

Keng Yaik, however, said the hiring of a Gerakan strongman was part of DAP’s political game and it would only be to Guan Eng’s loss as the act would be seen as a ‘politically selfish move’ instead of a sincere effort to help the people of Penang.

‘Still politics involved’

"Lee’s appointment also shows that DAP lacks the necessary skilled people to run Penang and that DAP had to get an experienced, clean and transparent local leader like Lee to do the job," he said.

"I am proud of Gerakan. Lee’s appointment reflects the calibre of our party to produce good local leaders, something DAP cannot afford to do," said Lim who added that most of the Penang executive councillors (exco) were not locals.

koh tsu koonAsked if he thought Lee’s resignation as Gerakan deputy secretary-general last month was a hint that party president Koh Tsu Koon (right) should follow suit, Lim said it was possible.

"Of course. But if you think Koh Tsu Koon is going to resign, no way!" stressed Lim.

Asked if disciplinary action would be taken against Lee for accepting a Pakatan Rakyat government offer, Lim said that he was not in the position to determine this as he was no longer part of the party’s central committee line-up.

"I am not the president anymore. The party’s central working committee and the central committee will decide on Lee’s future," said Lim who then disclosed that the party’s central committee would convene this Sunday and could ‘possibly’ discuss Lee’s future in the party.

Asked repeatedly what he felt personally about Lee’s action, the former Gerakan president remained reserved and refused to divulge his personal opinion on the matter.

"There is still politics involved. If Lee can perform his job without pushing Pakatan Rakyat’s agenda further and still remain loyal to Gerakan, he is a superman," added Lim.

Closing the half-an-hour press conference, Lim said that all he could say to Lee was ‘best of luck’ stressing that he was not being sarcastic about it.

Cheap mouthwatering tea-time treats

Mmmmm.....Apple Pie

Chicken Pie and Apple Pie

I have this thing for pastries and nothing hits the spot more than a wonderfully baked, crumbly and perfect chicken pie or apple pie!

TH found this stall and bought some of it for me to try and since then, I was hooked! These pies may be tiny but it sure do pack a punch in taste, flavour and most importantly, it is cheap too!

This is where you get the yummy Apple and Chicken Pies

The pies are stored in airtight containers

The little stall is just outside a coffee shop along Jalan Sungai Kelian in Hillside, Tanjung Bungah. He also sells mini cream puffs with real cream, not custard. These little bite-size delights are all homemade by the stall owner's relative, thus the great taste!

Just look at these tempting pies!

My review for the Apple Pie
- pastry is crumbly, buttery and melts in your mouth
- fillings are generous, just sweet enough and tasty

The nice friendly stall owner packing the pies for me

My review for the Chicken Pie:
- pastry is the same as the apple pie, it is crumbly, buttery and melts in your mouth
- fillings contain a few tiny pieces of chicken, peas and carrots, just the right amount for such a tiny bite-size pie

My review for the Cream Puff:
- pastry is soft and just the right consistency
- filling is real cream, not too sweet and when you bite into it, if fills your mouth with its creamy taste.

Snack rating: 7/10 - definitely recommended for teatime or just for the heck of it!

Price: 6 for RM3 (cream puff) / 5 for RM3 (pies)

Venue: Outside Chew City Cafe, Jalan Sungai Kelian, Hillside

Open: 8.30am - 11pm daily, close on Tues

Is Datuk Lee Kah Choon committing political suicide?

So, the rumours of the past two days that Lee Kah Choon has taken up a position in PDC and InvestPenang were true after all!

Today, he and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has confirmed that Kah Choon is now a director in PDC and InvestPenang. He is also the head of the executive committee of InvestPenang.

For a former top Gerakan leader, it is very surprising news indeed! One wonders at what he has planned to make such a move as I am sure it will definitely anger a lot of Gerakan faithfuls. After all, him going on board with two bodies under the current state government could only be termed as 'selling out' or worse, 'traitorous'.

Many said his move is akin to political suicide as it was almost a no-no for a Gerakan fella to be helping out the Pakatan Rakyat state government, which is now considered as the number one arch enemy of the party.

Just look at how many party members had started calling Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon, former exco, names and for not having principles just because he took part in a Pakatan Rakyat programme, which, mind you is organised for the public and not the party!!!

From a normal, apolitical citizen point of view, I personally feel that both what Kah Choon and Kin Woon did were by far the best things that a politician can do. After all, they are putting the people's interest first and foremost and not whatever party they belong to! Isn't that what we want in a political leader? To look out for our interests and not their party's interest?

Look at Kah Choon, he gave up all his posts in Gerakan a few weeks ago and when this offer came up, he considered it and took it in the interest of Penang.

I know, some may say he is in on it for the money but hey, he is a former lawyer. He could easily make more money practising as a lawyer than becoming a crummy director of a company. Also, since PDC and InvestPenang is now under Pakatan Rakyat, you think it is that easy to makan duit? I doubt it. He'd only get a monthly fix salary.

So, I feel that Kah Choon is sincere in wanting development for Penang. Of course, I also have an inkling of a suspicion that he did this to anger the Gerakan leadership. It is a known fact that he had a feud with the acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

On the other hand, Kah Choon could be doing this to build his grassroots base. He is still a Gerakan ordinary member. And he has said that he could still provide the check and balance as an opposition man within the two bodies. Meaning, he is inside the two profitable bodies and he is there to ensure no hanky panky went on in there.

There were also rumours that Kah Choon could be one of those within Gerakan who were really pissed off with the party for kowtowing too much to Umno. It was heard that this group had wanted the party to separate itself from BN and stand by itself but they failed miserably because those who wanted to remain as servants to Umno outnumbered them. However, I could not get any of my sources to confirm this rumour. If you know anything about this, I want to know!!

Kah Choon is one of the Gerakan leaders whom I have a modicum of respect for as he is hardworking, does not hold back in criticising the government and most of all, he is efficient in whatever he does.

So, in summary, I think Kah Choon has something more complicated up his sleeves than just settling down as a director for two investment bodies. We will have to wait and see just what it is before he reveals all his cards!

After all, Kah Choon is a well-known intelligent political strategist.

Pikom PC Fair is a death trap!

They have created a death trap, if ever a fire broke out, at the Pikom PC Fair in Pisa!

Firstly, the stalls are all so crammed together that the walkways are narrow and with the huge crowd there, it isn't very easy to get around.

Secondly, they have this REALLY STUPID idea to have one entrance and one exit. That's not the worse of it, they partitioned off the entrance so if you are on the other side of the concourse, you will have to walk ALL AROUND to the entrance if ever you need to get out in a hurry. The exit is on the lower ground so those who had walked around the concourse, go downstairs to the indoor stadium to check out the stalls and came up to the concourse again, will find that they have no way out but to go back down.

I do not see the point of this at all as there was no entrance fees. Since each and every single stall has so many staff to push their items at you, I would hardly think it is that easy for thieves to steal expensive stuffs like, say, a notebook (which are all locked, anyway).

As for the fair itself, if you are looking for cheap DVDs, CDs, thumb drives, memory sticks, memory cards and other techie accessories, then, going to the Pikom PC Fair is a good idea. Some of these items are being sold quite cheap and much lower than market rate.

A word of advice, though, go early as the crowds there are truly unbelievable and you may not get a good parking spot!

Other than that, well, it is not so great la. Most of the more expensive stuffs such as notebooks and some cameras are being sold at normal market prices...maybe with discounts of RM50 or so or worse, stupid free gifts that you do not need.

To prove my point, I went and checked out the prices of HTC Touch, my PDA phone, and found that there were no special discounts, no special packages and no special free gifts. It is the same as going to the shops on normal days to buy it. I also checked out wireless modems and the discounts were only between RM20 to RM50 or some of it the prices are the same but it includes unwanted free gifts.

The only good thing about the Pikom PC Fair is that all of the techie shops are concentrated in one place and it makes surveying and scouting for the best prices the shops can offer for certain items easier.



The Pikom PC Fair at Pisa is until Sunday and open from 11am to 9pm.

Lucky Flower

Look longer, the luck may rub off on you !

Ever heard of the Chinese phrase 'tik chu kai hua' - literal translation 'iron plant blossoming'?

Well, being an ang moh sai (English educated), I have not heard of it before until this nondescript GOOD LUCK plant blossomed at a friend's house and everyone practically made a huge fuss about it!

It seems that it is very, very, very rare for this plant to 'kai hua' so it is often that this 'tik chu kai hua' phrase was used in the same context as, say, 'when pigs fly'. I think.


It is also believed that if this plant were to produce blossoms, then the owner will reap the 'benefits' in the form of GOOD LUCK in everything. It could be a promotion, an unexpected windfall, maybe even strike the lottery?

It is also believed that those fortunate enough to see its blossoms will also similarly get GOOD LUCK!

Muahahahah...I just bought a lottery ticket, does that mean I am going to strike it rich and be able to 'fire' my boss?

Oh, well, superstitious it may sound but hey, no harm looking at flowers right? It is not as if we are required to eat it or anything! And yes, these pictures are of the GOOD LUCK plant and its blossoms.

So, if after looking at these pictures and you strike 4D, don't forget to belanja me huh?

Yummy local treats!

We took a trip to Nibong Tebal recently and of course stopped by to get one of my favourite local treats at one of the famous local..err...'manufacturers'.



The shop isn't easy to find as it is located along a narrow lorong off the sleepy town of Jawi and about 5 mins drive from the well-known Cheang Kee Restaurant of crab porridge fame. We did stop by at Cheang Kee for lunch, though and needless to say the food were still just as good and still affordable!

The crab porridge still lived up to its reputation and the other dishes we ordered, such as mantis prawn fried with dried chilli, boiled octopus, tang hoon char poey leng (vegetable with glass noodle), prawns and steamed fish were all very good. Sorry lar no pictures, we were so eager to dig in that by the time I remembered, it was too late.

Anyway back to the local treats I was talking about...it is Teochew snacks, Ak Am and Kacang Tumbuk and an array of local 'cookies' including Tau Sar Pneah, Tambun Pneah, Beh Teh Soh and Heong Pneah.

I have always loved Ak Am but not the generic, lousy kind found in supermarkets. I like it fresh, crunchy and importantly fragrant. And this shop makes one of the best Ak Am I have ever tasted! Ak Am is actually just loads of sugar, sesame and grounded peanuts but hey, aren't all sweet treats? I love the texture of Ak Am as it is both soft and crunchy due to the layer of caramel-like sugar outside and the crunchy kacang tumbuk in its core.

We did not buy the Tau Sar Pneah or Tambun Pneah but the Beh Teh Soh and Heong Pneah are absolutely heavenly! The Beh Teh Soh are biscuits with white sugar inside and theirs are so good because the skin is crunchy and the sugar inside, soft and non-sticky. Heong Pneah are almost the same except that brown sugar was used.

Now, I normally don't eat Heong Pneah due to its tendency to stick to your teeth and gums...but theirs are really good because it isn't in the least sticky at all!

Rows of Ak Am before it was packed

The first step of the whole process: family members sorting out peanuts

A packet of Ak Am is only RM8.50

So, the next time you happen to go to Nibong Tebal for whatever reason, I will strongly recommend dropping by at this shop to get their yummy treats. I am sure their Tau Sar Pneah and Tambun Pneah are just as good!

Here are the information on the shop:

Chop Cheng Guan
80 & 81 Jalan Pengkalan Rawa
04-5931391

Mickey's Amazing Journey

I went on five journeys with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy recently and though the whole ride was pretty fun, it wasn't what I'd spend good money on!

A scene from Peter Pan

The Disney On Ice - Amazing Journey show is great entertainment for the little ones and even some adult die-hard Disney fan.

101 Dalmations

Perhaps my expectations were high but I find it a bit of a let-down. Although my toddler enjoyed every minute of it, I find myself getting bored after the first few scenes.

In the journey, the five Disney hosts takes viewers to the lion's den (Lion King) and from there to the doghouse (101 dalmations) and then on to the bottom of the sea (Little Mermaid). The costumes were beautiful but I find the props a bit lacking. The background was bare most of the time except for some special lighting effects. The music is...well...it is Disney so the music are those you hear in the related animated films.

The hosts of the whole journey

After an intermission of about 20 minutes or so, the journey continued on to Hawaii (Lilo & Stitch) and ended spectacularly with the boy who doesn't grow up (Peter Pan). There was, of course, a finale where all the characters came out and skated around but it wasn't very impressive as there were just too many and it ended up looking like a bunch of colourfully dressed people fighting for space in the makeshift skating rink.

A scene from Peter Pan

The finale

So, in short, this is what I think of the show:

Entertainment value: Good for children, okay for Disney fans, nothing great for others

Costs: Not worth the ticket price of between RM55 and RM205. If it is between RM30 and RM100, then it is just nice.

Costumes: Pretty good

Music: The same Disney theme songs for the animated films

Watch again: Only if my kid insisted on going and I can get a discount or free tickets again...

Fun factor: 6 / 10

Shocking frontpage news!

I never imagine that I could ever say this about the MSM but today's frontpage commentary by NST was a really GOOD one!

NST says:
Get on with the job

IT’S been five weeks since the general election. The Barisan Nasional was returned to power, albeit with a smaller majority and the loss of five states. Despite the shock of the result, it was still a mandate that no one could argue with, not even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his wildest allegations of electoral fraud. But what has Umno, the leading partner of the coalition and largest party in parliament, been doing since March 8? Bickering, pointing fingers, baying for vengeance and doing everything imaginable except rolling up its sleeves and getting down to the work of governing.

Enough is enough.

People are getting fed up with Umno’s moaning and groaning, the political wayang and sandiwara its cast of characters is playing up and down the country.

The truth is that the people have long been disgusted with the kind of boorish, loutish behaviour that Umno leaders had exemplified because of their grip on power since independence in 1957.

Brandishing the kris was hurtful to the non-Malays but the party leadership did nothing to take the Umno Youth chief to task for the menacing and insulting gesture. Which was why he was emboldened to repeat it and provide extra impetus for the Chinese and Indians to abandon the BN at the polls.

It also did not go unnoticed that the leadership put up with the racist and inflammatory rhetoric of the delegates at the televised 2006 Umno general assembly.

Then there was the desecration of the temple under the watch of the then Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo which did so much to outrage the Hindus throughout the country and turn them against the ruling coalition. And Dr Khir had the cheek to award a broom to a local council president, when neither he nor the party president could control the warlords who held the party to ransom over the choice of candidates, and stabbed the party in the back when they did not approve of the candidates.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is now paying for these and other acts of omission, including the undeliverable promises of change that he made when he first became prime minister in 2003.

Every other day, he has had to deflect attacks by party members and ex-leaders who conveniently have absolved themselves of any fault. But every day that he is sidetracked by party bickering is another day affairs of state are neglected — the nation and the people are the losers.

Abdullah has said that he has got the message; he has accepted responsibility for the unkept pledges; and this time, he vows he will deliver on his promises and set the country in order before he retires.

That is, in fact, the verdict of his mandate, and he should be allowed to get on with it. But all the worms crawling out of the Umno woodwork — especially the retired and those with shelf lives past due who have found new breath in their calls for a party coup — won’t let him.

They don’t get it. Abdullah is not solely to be blamed and everything will not suddenly be all well again if he goes. Umno from the roots to the high branches all have to share the blame for their silence, their greed, arrogance and shenanigans that have turned off voters. So stop the navel-gazing and infighting.

If they have to fight among themselves, at least have the decency to keep it civilised and behind closed doors. They don’t have to drag the whole country through their infernal politicking.

There are more important things than private peeves and settling of scores.

Neither the brewing crisis over soaring food prices nor other major issues are going to wait for Umno to put its own house in order. Now is the time for the grand old party to move on, do the things its leaders have promised and show that it still has what it takes to lead the nation.

A former exco who thinks he is SO great!

It is amazing how a has-been can act as if he is very important, so important that he deserved to be given an 'official invitation' by the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to meet with the latter.

The nerve of some people, huh?

This arrogant has-been is none other than Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah, the former Deputy Chief Minister. This sore-loser, who normally do not have anything great to say anyway, has come right out and accused Lim Guan Eng of not being able to handle government administration and claimed that the Chief Minister has been hurling baseless accusations at the former state government over the land scam issues.

Aiya, Datuk Ngah-Ngah Abdul Rashid, you think Guan Eng will simply hurl accusations for the sake of pushing blame ka? You think he is so stupid to say all these out in public if he does not have any proof ka?

Then, to top if all off, he dared to say that Guan Eng had not sent him an official invitation to meet and discuss over the land scam issue.

Err...wahlau, this Pakcik Ngah-Ngah must be nyanyuk already la! He thinks he is the blardy King or Sultan to demand an official invitation from the Chief Minister in order to meet with him. He reportedly said to The Star:

"Where is the invitation to meet him (Guan Eng)? There was no official invitation from him for me to meet him at all,"

Our Chief Minister was, of course, very gracious about it. He issued an official invitation through the MSM to Abdul Rashid to go and meet with him and talk about the land scam issue.

Of course, Guan Eng also took a swipe at him la, saying it is too much if Abdul Rashid is expecting a formal, official letter from the CM to invite him over for a meeting.

Aiyar...the rest of us Penangites have to write in and send a letter to the CM to meet him and this has-been sore loser expects an official invitation from the CM??? Wahhh...he must really think he is so great to be afforded such special treatment!

Well, Datuk Ngah-ngah Abdul Rashid. Your arrogance will be short-lived as the CM has taken up your challenge to reveal all the dirty details of the land scams.

Lim Guan Eng has promised to REVEAL ALL DETAILS and guess who is in the midst of it all?

We shall see, won't we?

A clue as to who may be involved, just look back and think...whose portfolio was it to handle all land issues in the previous state government? So, if there are land scams, wouldn't the former exco in charge be literally in deep shit over this whole thing? How can the person in charge not know what's going on? Unless of course he has been sleeping and not doing his job....

Contact Numbers for Penang DAP & PKR reps

I am sure that many Penangites still do not know how to contact their own assemblyman or MP or do not know where the service centre is. Penang may not be all that big but it is not easy to look for a service centre if it is located at some small lorong out of nowhere.

So, to make life easier for everyone concerned (including those DAP stalkers...err...fans), here are a list of the assemblymen for each constituency and their contact numbers. Do remember that although these people welcome calls from the public it doesn't mean they are very free and answer the phone the whole day.

They are new in running the state government, they could be very busy and may not answer their phones sometimes. Have some patience. Also, if the number don't work, that means they have tukar it due to prank calls so please don't use these numbers to make prank calls! And no, I do not have the new numbers if there are changes. If I do, I would have put it in here.

MP

1. Bagan : Lim Guan Eng - Contact his special assistant: Foo Yu Keong 016-4988847
2. Permatang Pauh: Datin Seri Wan Azizah - contact Jamaliah 019-2140305
3. Bukit Mertajam: Chong Eng - 012-4286629
4. Batu Kawan: Prof Ramasamy - 019-2183489
5. Nibong Tebal: Tan Tee Beng - 012-4800801
6. Bukit Bendera: Liew Chin Tong - 012-2236968
7. Tanjung: Chow Kon Yeow - 019-4706189
8. Jelutong: Jeff Ooi - 012-2956356
9. Bukit Gelugor: Karpal Singh - 012-4289476
10. Bayan Baru: Datuk Zaharain - 012-4382211
11. Balik Pulau: Mohd Yusmadi 012-3093465

ADUN / State assemblymen

• Sungai Puyu: Phee Boon Poh - 012-4711111
• Bagan Jermal: Lim Hock Seng - 019-4491986
• Bagan Dalam: Tanasekharan - 019-4469054
• Permatang Pasir: Mohd Hamdan (PAS) - 012-4112139
• Penanti: Mohd Fairus - 017-3567320
• Berapit: Ong Kok Fooi - 019-4587107
• Machang Bubuk - Tan Hock Leong - 012-4850366
• Padang Lallang - Tan Cheong Heng - 012-4873101
• Perai: Prof Ramasamy (number as above)
• Bukit Tengah: Ong Chin Wen -019-2217753
• Bukit Tambun: Law Choo Kiang - 012-4287383
• Jawi: Tan Beng Huat - 012-4975877
• Sungai Bakap: Maktar Shapee - 012-4202472
• Tanjung Bungah: Teh Yee Cheu - 017-4729990
• Air Putih: Lim Guan Eng (as above)
• Kebun Bunga: Ong Khan Lee - 016-4586391
• Pulau Tikus: Koay Teng Hai - 012-4279564
• Padang Kota: Chow Kon Yeow (as above)
• Pengkalan Kota: Lau Keng Ee - 012-4422511
• Komtar: Ng Wei Aik - 019-2459305
• Datuk Keramat: Jagdeep Singh - 012-4883571
• Sungai Pinang: Koid Teng Guan - 012-4740008
• Batu Lanchang: Law Heng Kiang - 012-4988630
• Seri Delima: RSN Rayer - 019-4132681
• Air Itam: Wong Hon Wai - 016-4006821
• Paya Terubong: Yeoh Soon Hin - 012-4239550
• Batu Uban: Raveentharan - 012-4658231
• Pantai Jerejak: Sim Tze Tzin - 012-6068084
• Batu Maung: Abd Malek - 019-4451005
• Balik Pulau: Mohd Yusmadi - 012-3093465

I didn't include the Bodoh Nobodies' reps numbers as I am certain nobody is interested. Just remember, don't make prank calls to these people who are right this minute working very hard as our new state government.

The story behind the abandoned boy case

I made some calls and found out some of the details left out by our MSM about 10-year-old Yeap Jia Hui who was left to stay alone for the past two years.

It seems that Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu was already alerted about the case way before the MSM got a sniff about it. He had visited the boy and referred the case to the Welfare Department.

Just as he was getting things done to help the boy, a Buddhist group heard about it and immediately alerted the MSM and the whole thing came to light. See, if Yee Cheu is one of those crazy publicity politician, he would have called a press conference to point at the rubbish-filled apartment and point at the boy and declare that he is so great to have found out and he is now helping the boy.

But no, instead, he quietly went about helping the boy, probably to preserve the boy's dignity and identity (which is now all shot to tatters thanks to the MSM) for the boy is surely a child abuse victim. It is too bad that the MSM were given a tip-off before Yee Cheu could get things moving.

So, in the end the huge publicity angered the mother who had refused to give up the boy to his grandaunt who had wanted to adopt him. We will never know what the mother is thinking to leave the poor kid all alone for almost two years and only visiting him once every two to three weeks.

After all that hoo-ha which is widely reported by all the MSM, luckily Welfare exco Phee Boon Poh and Yee Cheu is still able to save the whole situation. It seems that legal action can't be taken against the mother as this will mean the boy will have to be sent to a boys' home which is not a good thing. We all know the welfare boys' home here aren't all that great either.

So they have talked to the mother and it looks like she has now changed her mind and may have consented to let the grandaunt adopt him after all. Of course, before allowing the grandaunt to take the boy, the welfare department will first contact the one in Kuantan to check out her background and the environment first.

So, if all goes well and the grandaunt legitimately wants to take care of the child (and not to use him as child labour or for something sinister), there is a happy ending for Jia Hui after all.

For now, he is staying with his grandmother and my prayers will go out to him and his five other siblings that they will have a better life.

p/s: I also heard that Jia Hui has a younger half brother staying with his grandmother and the welfare department are also looking into his case.

Do you want Pak Lah to continue as PM?

I sure as heck want some changes!

But Mr Mumble mumble Kampung Pakcik otherwise known as Pak Lah seemed tenacious as hell and intent on hanging on to his post, much like a stubborn terrier with a rare meaty bone clutched between its jaws.

According to Malaysiakini:

PM: I'll contest in Umno polls, succession can wait

Apr 14, 08 5:32pm

Embattled Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today vowed that he would be defending his Umno president post in December and that the succession plan can wait after the crucial party polls.

He also stressed that he would hand over power to his deputy, Najib Abdul Razak only when the time is right.

According to Abdullah, he still has unfinished business to do before he steps down to allow Najib to take over the helm.

However, he did not give a time-frame as to when this would take place apart from saying that it would be after the Umno polls in December.

Abdullah was speaking to reporters after a closed-door meeting with about 500 BN elected representatives - both those in state assemblies and Parliament - at the Putra World Trade Centre this afternoon.

The prime minister argued that he has to put the party in order before handing the rein over to his deputy.

"Of course, I want the transfer of power to be smooth so that the party will be in good hands and there will be no chaos," said Abdullah.

"I can't just hand a messy party over to Najib and say 'here you go, good luck… that's your problem'. That's not the proper way."

Why shouldn't I contest?

Abdullah also dismissed rumours that a time-frame had been set for his retirement at a meeting with Umno leaders in Johor last Friday.

"They (Umno leaders) said that they would leave it to me and that they will support me and my deputy in the party polls in December.

"After that, Pak Lah and Najib will decide (on) the transfer of power," Abdullah said, referring to himself by his nickname. "Why should I not contest the party polls?"

The premier was also confident that all BN members of parliament were loyal to him and would not initiate a vote of no confidence against him when Parliament convenes at the end of this month.

On when the transfer of power would take place, Abdullah said: "I cannot reveal that to you."

He added that those calling for his resignation does not represent the grassroots.

Abdullah has come under severe pressure from within his own party to step down and let Najib to take over. His detractors are blaming him for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition’s unprecedented setback in the March 8 general election.

Former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has indicated that he would contest for the Umno top post to "heal the party".

Today, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim joined the chorus of senior Umno officials calling for Abdullah to step down after International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said over the weekend an immediate change of leadership was necessary to ensure the party's survival.

Former Selangor Menter Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo also called for a succession plan that will see Najib taking over without delay.

It would be a coup: Shahrir

Meanwhile, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affair Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad said he failed to understand why Muhyiddin and Rais was forcing the prime minister's hand.

parliamentary integrity forum 070606 syed shahrir pc"First of all, I don't see why there is a crisis in Umno when only a small number of Malays have abandoned the party,” he said after Abdullah’s meeting with BN elected representatives.

According to independent statistics, there was a five percent swing against the government among Malay voters in last month’s general elections.

"If at all there was any erosion of votes for BN, it came from the component parties (MCA, MIC and Gerakan). The candidates from Umno did very well as the Malay support was quite high," said Shahrir, who is Johor Bahru MP and Abdullah's close ally.

"The problem was with the non-Malay parties, yet somehow Umno leaders successfully created a leadership crisis when there is no correlation with the results," he added.

On certain quarters trying to force Abdullah to quit, Shahrir revealed that the premier had already said he was going and that he had given a date to (Umno vice-president) Muhyiddin at the Johor meeting last Friday.

"Abdullah has set a date. But obviously it’s going to happen after December. Unfortunately, there seems to be people who want it to be faster. I don't understand why, unless they have vested interest," said the outspoken politician.

However, Shahrir was vague on the actual date of transition. He said it could be either 2009 or 2010.

"To be fair, he has already said he's going, so what's the rush?" lamented Shahrir. "Instead of allowing him to run the government, he is being distracted with talks of transition."

"This would not be a transition but a 'Get out!'. It will be a coup d’etat."

Beware of what you say

At the meeting with BN elected representatives, Abdullah reminded them of their duties to their constituencies, especially those from the five states governed by Pakatan Rakyat, namely Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan.

Among the issues he touched on were the representatives' role in understanding the Standing Orders so that they can debate constructively, the importance of servicing their electorate regardless of party or race and the need to monitor government-initiated projects.

He also reminded parliamentarians that the august house was not a place for them to make seditious statements and that they can still be charged under the Sedition Act if they make racial or religious statement detrimental to the nation.

Unfinished business? Heck, he wants to bring the whole country to ruins first before giving way to Najib or whoever fighting for the position issit?

Hmm...or maybe he is just saying this to save face in the event of Pakatan Rakyat taking over which seemed to become a possible reality from the way Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been going around saying how he had amassed more than 30 froggies to make up the numbers.

No wonder he can't reveal when the transfer of power will take place because it is not possible for Pak Lah to know what Anwar has up his sleeves.

And he dared to warn parliamentarians of the Sedition Act, as if the Umnoputras have not been going around making seditious statements with racial slurs which is 'detrimental to the nation'. What a load of crap!

Judging from recent events, we do have interesting times ahead of us, eh? If Anwar is right about the froggies, it looks like we will continue to have Penangite as a Prime Minister...