Anti-PORR people, time to break out the champagne!

To all the Anti-PORR campaigners, it looks like your dream came true because the federal government has decided to shelve this controversial and very much unwanted PORR (Penang Outer Ring Road) project indefinitely.

I read in Malaysiakini here that:

Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister's Department today said that the RM2 billion Penang Monorail and RM1.5 billion Penang Outer Ring Road have been shelved.

MCPX

According to EPU director-general Dr Sulaiman Mahbob, projects that are not people-centred under the original Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) will be put on hold or deferred.

Frankly, I am glad that they shelved the PORR thing. It was a stupid idea in the beginning anyway and let's not forget that the stupid billion ringgit project only serve to line some cronies' pockets.

So, yes, I couldn't agree more that this project is not 'people-centred'. It was definitely more 'crony-centred' right from the beginning. Is the BN government finally seeing sense?

Or did they have this skewed sense that Penangites REALLY wanted the PORR badly so canceling it is a very good way to punish Penangites who dared to mark the cross next to logos that do not look like the scale in the elections.

But then the DPM Najib denies this (according to Malaysiakini):

Met later, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the deferment of the two Penang mega-projects was not a punishment on Penangites who voted in the opposition-led state government.

"(There is) no question of punishing anyone because (other) essential projects continue to be implemented whether the states are run by Barisan Nasional or not," he told a press conference held at the lobby.

As for the cancellation of the Penang Monorail project, I have mixed feelings about it. For one, at least there is not another project in which all our taxpayers' money (that's TWO blardy BILLION!!) were not spent to line another crony's pockets to complete the monorail project.

For another, we are in dire need of a proper public transportation system in Penang because having only RapidPenang is DEFINITELY not enough! I do not understand the part about this project not being people-centred.

So, providing public transportation is not people-centred, then what is? Projects that give more profits to their cronies? What, are they worried that the DAP-PKR state government will scrutinise the project and expose them so it is better to scrape it for now?

Okay, even if they want to shelve the monorail project because it is too expensive, do they have alternative public transportation projects for Penang? By the looks of it, nope.

First they increase the petrol price, now they do away with an alternative public transportation system here. So, are Penangites supposed to walk and cycle everywhere now?

Yep, we have a really great federal government and I absolutely agree that this does not mean they are punishing Penangites for voting them out. After all, public transportation is not people-centred. It is only for show and to line some cronies' pockets.

Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung backs up the police over BMC incident

What has this country come to that it is perfectly justified for the riot squad personnel to take the law into their own hands and beat up a person just because they think the person could have tried to run down one (or a few) of them?

Malaysiakini reported on the incident, complete with pictures, but it seems our Deputy Home Minister prefer not to believe the pictures and even said (excerpt from Malaysiakini):

"I can also say that Malaysiakini's report is incorrect. Don't just hear one side of the story. We have to hear the other side to know exactly what actually happened on May 27," he exclaimed.

So, is he saying that it is justified for the personnel to beat someone up even if the person did try to run them down? So, it is justified for a group of riot squad personnel armed with batons to drag ONE man out of his vehicle and then set upon him till he was bleeding from multiple injuries? Since when does police/ authority brutality become a justified action?

Even if the man did try to run one of the personnel down, couldn't they just arrest him and the passengers without resorting to any violence? Can you just explain that Mr Chor Chee Heung? According to Malaysiakini, he seemed think that whatever happened is due to the 'confusion' at the time:

"I believe in the confusion, many accusations have been made against the police and thugs. After that, residents were told to lodge police reports," he said.

Luckily the riot squad personnel were not armed with guns. God knows what would have happened if they were. Probably more people would be lying dead just because ' they thought that they are trying to run them down'. You can read the full article at Malaysiakini here.

Seems like people who demonstrate peacefully in peace walks could be arrested and charged with illegal assembly or sedition, people who blog the truth can be arrested and charged with sedition and people (on the 'right' side) can just openly beat up other people without any actions being taken against them.

What has this country become?

Should Kit Siang change his blog post?

If you've been following the news, I am sure you will find that suddenly there is so much interest in bloggers and blogs that the police have a cyber crime unit just to check on blogs and websites to make sure they do not contain so-called seditious statements.

Even in parliament, MP Lim Kit Siang was warned and told to 'correct' his blog post on Kiandee which you can read in his blog. According to Malaysiakini:

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has warned Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) to correct remarks in his blog which lambasted deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee for rejecting his motion on Sabah illegal immigrants.

Should Lim fail to do so, he could be liable to disciplinary action similar to that instituted in the past against fellow DAP parliamentarians Karpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor) and Fong Po Kuan (Batu Gajah).

Pandikar also told Lim to make corrections to his press statement on the issue, which was similar to his blog posting.

So now it seems that stating your own opinions in your own personal blogs about the arseholes (you know who I am talking about here) could be construed as seditious or 'baseless organisations'.

Even now, the MCMC are 'investigating 22 websites and blogs' for airing false, pornographic and baseless allegations. According to Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum they will use the Sedition Act and Penal code in the investigations.

I say enough is enough already.

You lose the two third majority, so deal with it! What is with all this sudden interest to arrest bloggers and punish wakil rakyat bloggers for stating the obvious? Of course, through their skewed sense of right and wrong, what we see as true facts are labeled as 'baseless allegations'.

So, bloggers, you now have two choices. Blog the truth and face possible actions for writing 'baseless allegations' or lie through your teeth and present an even more skewed situation to the public.

Of course, you could always use the third and more popular choice that plagiarists often adopt. No, no, no, not copying other's blogs but use different names.

Say, instead of naming the person/ party you are blogging about, you can use monikers like Bodoh Numbskulls or Najis or Pakcik Kampung or Kerisman or Moron, etc. Unleash your creativity! Also use double meaning to the hilt.

Them morons may or may not know what you are about but heck, it makes it damn difficult for them to prove anything because you can always say that it is a piece of fiction you write for fun. Heh.

Me? I couldn't care less. I am only blogging the truth and what I think. This is my blog and I will blog whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want!

Yes, I am afraid that my big fat butt may get hauled in so I may adopt the third method once in a while if I venture into ultra-sensitive territory....

Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, now only you want to talk about ISA?

This goes to show what a suck-up the Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon is! (read the Malaysiakini news below…)

The DAP and PKR have been harping on abolishing the draconian ISA for years now. After all, the stupid act gives the government the absolute power to detain people without a fair trial indefinitely. It is an act against any basic human rights.

But have Gerakan ever issue any statement against it? Nope. Not a single peep.

Wah, then suddenly now, Dr Koh so supportive of the proposal to review the ISA. What the heck. Eh, you worried about Gerakan being relegated to being less than an office boy for Gerakan issit?

Of coz, we really have to give him credit. He managed to suck up to the BN leadership while at the same time act as if he really cared about the ISA detainees. This is what people call kill two birds with one stone, eh?

Pretty smart move you think?

But hor, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, the people are not stupid okay? You think we are blind and stupid and deaf issit? You think we did not notice the deafening silence on the whole ISA issue from Gerakan all these years? You think we will forget all about it the moment you suddenly decided to say that the Hindraf 5 should be released now.

Woi, you might as well start supporting the Hindraf’s cause now while you are at it. What next? When the capricious BN decided to review the NEP, you will also jump in and say ‘ Yes, we welcome the move…etc…etc..***suck up, suck up, suck up***….’

Boy am I glad you were voted out of the state government!

News from Malaysiakini:

Gerakan welcomes ISA review
May 23, 08 3:18pm
Gerakan today urged the government to set up a parliamentary select committee to look into the review of the Internal Security Act, a proposal which was mooted by the government yesterday.

Hoping that the ISA review would eventually lead to some significant changes in the colonial-era security law, Gerakan’s acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon said that the parliamentary committee can play a role in identifying the changes.

This select committee consisting of members of Parliament from both the government and opposition benches can examine in depth various aspects of the Act and achieve some common ground before tabling for open debate in Parliament,” he said in a statement today.

He added that the proposed review of ISA should make it to be in compliance with basic principles of human rights.

“There should be enough safeguard against various possible and actual infringements on basic human rights.

“The review should also provide more specific definitions and listing of offences which relate to genuine threat to national security, including terrorism,” he added.

The former Penang chief minister said that with clear criteria and enough safeguards, the ISA “will less likely be subject to abuse and the perception that it has been used for political purposes to silence dissenters”.

PM was quite receptive

Yesterday the de facto law minister Mohd Zaid Ibrahim told Parliament that the government would review the law which allows for indefinite detention without trial.

He said that the review - to be undertaken by a study involving Zaid, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail - will “enhance and update provisions” in it.

“However, as a government that is sensitive towards the public’s demand, it is open to enhancing and updating provisions under the ISA as well as other laws,” he told Parliament.

“Preventive detention is actually still needed in this country. However, there is the possibility of reviewing the Act in future,” Zaid said, without giving a timeframe of when the review will take place.

Responding today, Koh said that Gerakan was one of several parties which have been calling for review or even repeal of the ISA since the 80s.

He also revealed that he has been pursuing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi since April on the need for ISA review.

“The prime minister was quite receptive,” he said.

Release all ISA detainees

Koh also pointed to another parliamentary select committee which was formed in the 80s to look into changes to be made to the Dangerous Drugs Act which also provided preventive detention without trial, just like the ISA.

He said that committee, of which he was a member, was able to come up with some specific provisions to provide for safeguard and the bill was passed in Parliament.

“That committee which comprised opposition members such as Lee Lam Thye was given a very good insight into the various aspects relating to drug trafficking and preventive detention, including difficulties with respect to evidences and witnesses,” he said.

Koh also revealed that in January and February, and again in early April and May this year, he had appealed to Abdullah for the review and release of existing ISA detainees on health, humanitarian and other valid grounds, including the Hindraf 5.

Last week, the Federal Court refused to release five ethnic Indian activists - dubbed the Hindraf 5 - who were fighting for their freedom after being detained under the Act.

The five, including a newly sworn-in state lawmaker, were detained in December after enraging the government a month earlier by mounting a mass rally alleging discrimination against minority ethnic Indians.

That's right, blame the white blouse for social ills and sex crimes

While you are at it, why not blame little children for daring to play in playgrounds as they are inviting perverted pedophiles to kidnap them by blatantly displaying themselves in such a public place.

Also, blame the women for even daring to step out of their homes as it could be construed as they are ‘inviting’ attention to themselves by blatantly displaying themselves in public places.

Don’t forget to blame all the clothes manufacturers for their audacity in producing clothes of any colour except for black such as yellow, blue, red, pink, purple, green or any other shades lighter than black could be construed as sexy.

While we are on a roll here, might as well reintroduce the chastity belt and impose laws to lock up all women and girls behind windowless rooms so that they do not tempt any men just by being there.

Finally, blame God for creating women in the first place to tempt men to commit evils of all kinds.

Seriously.

The root of social ills and sex crimes is more than just a white blouse. It is more than pirated porno materials available everywhere. It is more than the so-called negative western culture presented through the television, internet, etc.

Does this uptight, ignorant Munirah Bahari of the National Islamic Students Association of Malaysia even know what nonsense she is spouting before opening her mouth?

Other bloggers, Lilian and PabloPabla, have already pointed out her foolishness and blatant ignorance.

I however wish to point out that she is but an example of many others in the society who tend to blame everyone and everything from clothing to the victims EXCEPT for the perpetrators and lack of education when it comes to sex crimes.

So, the rapist / pervert / sexual predator were not pinpointed for their sick aversions but the victims were pinpointed for their dressing and their looks.

No rape / sex crime victim ever ‘asked for it’ no matter how she looked like or dressed like. Do you think Nurin asked for it? Do you think the countless young children who were sexually abused and raped asked for it?

In rape cases, it is often about control and not about sex. Even in sexual abuse cases, it is often about control and less about sex. How could raping an eight year old be about sex when the poor child hardly have any breasts? Rape was also one of the main actions in times of war, again, it is about power and control. Not about sex.

It is sad indeed that despite efforts by womens’ organisations like Women’s Centre for Change to change the mindset of the people to think about educating the people to respect women to reduce sexual crime rates, there are still those in society who preferred to blame it all on the victims than on the lack of education to prevent the perps from doing this.

It is also the same for social ills. Education and religious teachings play an important part to curb these. It is not about clothing or lack thereof. If adults, parents and teachers alike, do not play their roles to teach the young and lead by example, what could a simple white blouse do?

If I remember correctly, the Sisters (nuns) in the convent school I went to were dressed in white habits too. I hardly think those are sexy in any way!

On another note, I wore white blouses throughout my schooling days. So did my classmates and schoolmates. Amazingly, none of us were raped or sexually assaulted because of our ’sexy’ attire.

Shucks, if we knew white blouses are sexy, we would not have bothered going to all that trouble smuggling our own clothes in our school bags to change into so that we could go lepak-ing after school in ‘cool’ attire!

Shiissshhhh…how come no one ever told us this all those years ago? Ceh, the guys then must have been blind while the guys now must probably have x-ray vision which can only be thwarted by black or darker coloured clothing.

Karpal Gets a Death Threat

It looks like Karpal's worries will see no end.

What with all that fuss over his alleged seditious remark that the Sultan of Perak did not have any say in the decision made by the state government, now, he gets a death threat for uttering that remark.

It was not enough that he gets 20 police reports lodged against him for that remark, it was also not enough that other DAP members seemed to have 'abandoned' him by not saying anything in support of him and now some idiot has decided to send him a live bullet with a death threat.

According to Malaysiakini:

The live bullet was accompanied with a note warning him against speaking out on the controversial issues of Malay rights and the constitutional powers of the sultans.

“Kalau tak berhenti, peluru ini akan melekat pada kepala dahi kau!” (If you don’t stop, this bullet will be lodged in your forehead).

Here is an image of the death threat taken from Malaysiakini:

You can read the whole article about the death threat in Malaysiakini here. I seriously do not understand all this fuss over Karpal's remark which is simply:

“Sultan Azlan Shah did not have any say, as the Ruler of Perak, in the decision made by the state government and, by law, the palace cannot order the state government to reinstate Jamry.”

Heck, even Lilian aka 5xmom had pointed out in her blog post: Warkah untuk PM - Pak Lah pun sama dengan Karpal saja that Pak Lah had said about the same thing. But why is it okay for Pak Lah to say it but not okay for Karpal to say it?

Pak Lah had said (in March):

The appointment of anyone but Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as Terengganu Mentri Besar is unconstitutional, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“Most of the state assemblymen support Datuk Seri Idris. This fact remains unchanged. They are in agreement,” he told reporters after attending the 10th Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix yesterday.

“Therefore, appointing anyone else is not right constitutionally,” he said.

Abdullah was commenting on the Mentri Besar saga in which Kijal assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Said received his letter of appointment as the new Mentri Besar from Regency Advisory Council (MPPR) chief Tengku Sri Panglima Raja Tengku Baderulzaman at a closed-door ceremony at Istana Tetamu in Kuala Terengganu at 8.20am yesterday.

It all boils down to the double standards practiced by all the Bumbling Numbskulls who are in charge of the federal government now where it is right for one leader to say it is unconstitutional for the royalty to decide on a political appointment while it is wrong for another to say that the royalty cannot order the state government around.

Isn't it all the same except in said in different words?

Sigh...what a bumbing mess those idiots are.

If you don't want people to read the report then don't sell it AT ALL!

First they said the report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the V.K. Lingam video clip will be made public. This means, anyone could read it right?

Wrong.

The moment some press made it public, they go and lodge police reports against the press.

That Ahmad Shabery Cheek some more have the cheek to say that this is not aimed at curbing press freedom and claimed that it was some sort of a 'leak'. Uh-huh. Yeah, definitely, there has been some sort of leak.

His brains are leaking from his head.

Just to think, a bare few weeks ago, this is the minister who went around talking about press freedom..ptui! What a load of hogwash and rubbish. Next time you want to lie, don't do it when you are going to be caught bare-faced and all.

I mean, do you even know the meaning of press freedom ah Mr Information Minister? Or do you need to get informed on the full meaning first?

It does not mean lodging police reports against the media to investigate the media under OSA for publishing a report that was to be made public anyway.

And then giving some stupid excuses that there might be some other 'leaks' on national secrets. Ooohhhh....why not bring in ISA while you are at it and say that by publishing the report, the media are now a threat to national security?

And this stupid statement:

“The Government has the right to protect certain classified information before making a public disclosure,” he (Ahmad Shabery Cheek) said.

It seems to me that you are contradicting yourself. First it is classified information and then making a public disclosure. Err, how can it be public disclosure if it is classified information? It is either classified information or information meant for public disclosure. Did your mother drop you on your head or something when you were a baby?

Or does it mean the government has no intention to make the FULL report public at all and only wished to expose some parts of it while others are 'classified information'? Heck, so this means, the blardy government has no intention to publicly disclose the whole sordid details of this judicial crap for all to see. Except that the media beat them to it and decided to make public details of it first before they could cover up the bits and pieces they want to cover.

Isn't that just typical of the Bumbling Numbskulls? Pretend to be all transparent and clean but then go behind the people's back to cover up all their dirty deeds.

For once, I am glad for the MSM. Biased they may be but at least once in a blue moon, they do present news that are sort-of unfiltered.

Although, of course, this so-called leak may just be a sanctioned one to get rid of the respect for Tun Dr M once and for all. And to put themselves as the innocent party, of course, they make full use of the bumbling idiots in the police force who'd bend over backwards for the Bumbling Numbskulls.

By the way, they are selling the report for over RM500++!!

Hmmm...perhaps they wanted to earn some fast bucks for it and were damn paik chek (frustrated) when the MSM published some of the details, rendering the full report quite valueless as when it was an 'exclusively available only at...' product.

You can read about the cheek of the mis-information minister in his opinion about the police report here.

Free two-month tour on the government!

Do you want to go to London for a holiday and can't afford it?

Well, there is an easy and free solution to that. Just sign up for the army and you may get to be sent to England with free food, free lodging and plenty of free time to tour the whole of England at the government's...nay...more like, at our (the taxpayers') expense!

Oh, wait! I'm sorry, the offer is only valid for those eligible to join the Royal Malay Regiment and from the looks of it, the offer has been snapped up. It was reported by Bernama here.

Shucks! No free two-month holidays for the rest of us unlucky ones... :'-(

Our government just can't help but spend our money on frivolous things like sending our army personnel to guard, of all things, Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and the Tower of London.

Eh, I thought you all very pandai to sneer at the Western culture but now it is perfectly alright to spend our money, RM1.9mil of it to be exact, to send our army there?

What, pray, are they going to learn there? Learn to dress in 'ceremonial temperate dress' and strut around holding M16s? Yes, I am sure they will learn a lot from that two month stint there, NOT!

Sometimes it really do boggles the mind at how the government fritters away our money.

Wah, civil servants must surf blogs more often now?

I read this very interesting news, though not Penang-related, but it is interesting nevertheless.

KUALA LUMPUR: The civil service has to respond not only to the conventional media but also the alternative media to deliver services more efficiently, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said yesterday.

“Gone are the days when public officials could choose to ignore the media, complaints, telephones ringing or even letters to editors,” he said during a luncheon talk titled Challenges of Malaysian Business Competitiveness in the Global Economy.

He said the notion that the alternative media was associated with “young punks” no longer held true as it now knew no age limit.

“Even the Prime Minister himself has initiated a website for the public to write in directly to him on any issues,” he said.

The website – www.warkahuntukpm.com.my – was launched on March 1. – Bernama

Hmmm...the news is pretty confusing at best. It started by saying civil servants must respond to alternative media (which I take to mean online media and blogs) instead of just conventional media.

Then he went on to say that they have been ignoring the conventional media too.

So, which is which la?

Methinks the civil servants have been ignoring everything related to work so what's the point of this issue inserted into your talk? Another gimmick to try to get more people to go to the warkah site?

Aiyah, you want to tell the civil servants to work instead of going for teh tarik every five minutes, say so la. No need to beat around the bush and using the words media and alternative media just to get your words into Bernama. Don't worry la, you the chief secretary mah so sure la Bernama will put up whatever you said even if you talk crap.

And what's with the alternative media associated to 'young punks' thing? Hello, you old foggies may think that but that does not mean everyone else think the same, okay?

Another idiotic minister opens her mouth

The lesbian minister aka Azalina has decided to withdraw tourism support for five states by canceling tourism MoUs with the tourism action councils in the states which include Penang.

Then she said the councils will be under the ministry and not the state governments to 'organise tourism events' in the states but all the tourism events planned will be revised and reviewed.

After that she contradicted herself by saying that there is no boycott of tourism in these states.

Well, my dearest clueless former sports minister now turned tourism minister, canceling the MoUs is not boycott kah? And by the way, what is the point of this exercise except to tell the people that 'you go vote for the Opposition la, now we won't help you anymore' in an obvious sore-loser kind of way?

Doesn't it even cross your tiny corrupted mind that this will only affect the tourism industries in these states, more so the people in the industry, than anything else? What, you think the state governments are making money from tourism ke? Don't tell me the small tiny li'l white mass in your head can't make it clear for you that tourism benefits the people and the economy as a whole and not just the state governments?

Or you are worried that the funding channeled to the action councils will no longer be distributed amongst fellow Umnoidiotputras anymore if the councils are under the state governments? So, you have to remove the councils from the state government to ensure the funding channeled to them are safe and sound and will continue to feed the Swiss bank accounts of many other sore-loser idiots in the same bed as you? Hmm...one does wonder.

Fortunately, the Penang state government is not so perturbed by it due to tremendous support by private sponsors and corporations in state tourism events. The exco in charge, Danny Law has said that they will just have to find a way around it and get support from elsewhere such as the private sector although they still need federal funding for major projects.

"After all, the private sector is very supportive of this new state government because any proposed good projects now will not be hijacked and given to Umno as it used to happen previously," he reportedly said.

Hmmm...methinks Danny, who is incidentally my long-time acquaintance, is improving and that is a good sign. He is finally settling down to the big task given to him and we can expect good things coming up in the tourism sector soon. After all, he had promised many 'good news' in the near future.

I shall await his good news.

Congratulations! You've won RM9,000

If you receive such an SMS, delete it and don't even bother reading through it. It is DEFINITELY a scam.

It really amazes me that there are so many stupid people who would willingly part with their hard earned money just because some stranger told them that they have won RM9,000 / RM1mil / USD30,000 whatever the amount through some unknown contest and that they have to pay RM3,000 or RM10,000 or even RM28,000 to claim the grand prize money.

Err...helllloooooo???!! How stupid can you be? Or greedy?? Did I mention stupid? Every other day we will read in the papers that some brainless moron was cheated of between RM500 to tens of thousands due to promises of a large sum of money.

Think la. Where can you find 'kom tai chek kap lar chui kai thiu' (Cantonese for 'such a big frog jumping around the streets')?

Last month, 14 people in Penang parted with RM85,000 just because they received an SMS telling them they have won some contest. Hmmm...I didn't know there are so many stupid people in Penang!

What's the deal anyway? When your children ask you for more pocket money / your parents ask you for some money / some legitimate charitable organisation ask you for some donation, you said no money la, can't afford la, all sorts of excuses.

Then some unknown, faceless stranger send you an SMS, you immediately go bank in money to the person? Where the hell is your common sense or brains, for that matter.

So, there. Now, I feel much better after ranting about it. To all those who lost their money because of SMS scams, serve you blardy well right for not using your brains!

A shadow of their former selves?

When I read the news, it made me want to laugh out loud and hysterically too! The mere silliness of it is enough to make me want to shake some sense into them or...... Please, just spare me from this senselessness and poke my eyes out with a red-hot fork now!

Looks like we will have a shadow exco. Read about it here:

Article from The Star online, April 30, 2008 (Sunday)

Penang gets its shadow exco

PENANG: State Barisan Nasional chief Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has announced his "shadow" executive councillors -- 11 Umno state assemblyman -- who will "monitor the performance" of the new state government.

Koh said each shadow executive councillor would head a committee with representatives from all component parties.

The committee members are former Barisan candidates who were experienced and interested in the various fields under their portfolios.

"They will meet regularly and frequently with related non-governmental organisations and the public to reflect the views and thoughts of all people," he told a press conference after chairing a Barisan Nasional meeting on Sunday.

He said opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim would head the shadow executive council.

Azhar was recently criticised for participating in an illegal assembly on March 14 to protest statements made by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, and also for asking the Federal Government to scrap mega-projects in the state.

Dr Koh said Barisan wanted to be a strong coalition that does not only work together during the general election, but functions at all times.

"We want to continue to be an effective coalition that represents all the different races in the state.

"All the component party leaders and members had shown their commitment in continuing to serve and work for the people despite the downfall in the election," he said.

What I don't get are these few points:

1. What does he mean by shadow exco? Does he mean they are just back to what they do best? Hang around like real shadows and do nothing?

2. Why is the sore-loser the head of the shadows? Hmm..perhaps his shadow is bigger and he is the best one to have hanging around and doing nothing...well, except to organise street demonstrations and call for press conferences announcing his stupidity to the world while lacing his words with racial sentiments...

3. Huh? Regular meetings with NGOs and other committee members from all component parties? Are you sure? You mean, you are not still fighting with MCA? You mean Umno actually talk to you instead of giving you orders? And also, after all these years, you suddenly want to talk to the NGOs?

Hmm..I don't know la. This just seems so darn shadowy, it is hard to believe and swallow.

I mean, they had their chance when the were exco members. At that time, they were already like shadows, with no substance and hardly any accomplishments. So, what makes him so sure they won't remain as shadows even with this easy, simple task of monitoring the performance of the state government?

But then again, he is smart to call them shadows. After all, if they end up acting like real shadows, nobody can blame him. After all, he already warned us that they will only be shadows. No substance needed.

TM suck big time!

I am so very irritated and annoyed and darn hopping mad with TM that I have half a mind to cancel all my subscription of land line and Streamyx with the world's most inefficient telecommunications company there ever was!

It is their good fortune that I could not afford any other broadband internet provider (Maxis is slow & expensive or fast & extremely expensive. Celcom is under TM so it is not another internet provider, it's the same). My only other hope is PenangFon but they are not in my area so it is out of the question.

The problem. Well, it is a really simple problem actually. Something a visit from their technician could solve probably within minutes. You see, I am having problems connecting to the internet if I use a splitter. I know I know, it could be the splitter problem but it isn't. I would know because I changed the blardy splitter three times! I don't think I am so suey that every splitter I got is faulty! Besides, the splitter worked just find elsewhere!

Again, I know it could be the cable problem. Well, I changed the cables so many times I've lost count! I've called 100 so many times I've also lost count! So, the only way for me to go online now is to connect the line directly to the modem, bypassing the splitter.

This means, I can't use the phone if I am online. Absolutely ridiculous, if you ask me!
Some smart alec customer service fella whom I called through 100 even had the cheek to tell me that I should go look for a technician and pay him to look into the faulty line.

Now, why the heck should I do that? It is obviously a line problem and not my blardy fault. Why should I be the one to fork out $$ to rectify what is basically a TM problem?

Sigh. This is what we get when one single company gets to practically monopolise the whole sector! Poor customer service and horrendous responses to complaints.

This is not the first time I am having problems with TM. Previously it was some stupid phone line problem which took them months to rectify and now this. Seriously, those idiots just don't know how to do their jobs at all!

Well, I have sent a really nasty email to the customer care in TM and I'll see what happens.

If I still face the same problem, I will do some investigative checks and personally contact the GM or area manager here and send him/ her my letter / email of complaint. That should get their attention!

Hummppphhh! The moment PenangFon comes to my area, I will be first in line!

What are they teaching the young?

I would think that by now I will be so used to the crappy shenanigans of the sore-losers Barisan No-brain, and then something like (read the news excerpt below) this crop up. Makes me want to buy a machine gun and just blast those idiots into smithereens. But then again, it is not worth it to be jailed and hanged for those worthless bunch of brainless morons.

The Education Ministry has issued a verbal directive (see, they know it is wrong so they do it without any black and white) to all education departments in five states (no prizes for guessing which ones) to be neutral. By neutral, they meant not involving political leaders in any of their functions.

Okay, if they issued this directive two months ago, I would perfectly understand. In fact, I would applaud it. After all, a school is not the place for any political leader to campaign. But nooooooooo... they had to issue the directive now.

Previously, it is perfectly alright and even encouraged for schools to invite state executive councillors or assemblymen to their functions which range from some colouring competition to prize giving day to sports day. In fact, in the midst of the election campaigns, we can see politicians (mostly the ones in dark blue with the scales) handing out school bags, library books, launching this, officiating that at schools and even giving ceramahs when invited to speak.

Amongst the personalities who were seen in some school function or other includes cabinet ministers and even the prime minister himself. So, where was the directive to be neutral then? These politicians, on the pretext of showing care and concern for the education of our children, were throwing money here there and everywhere to the schools and even organised big ego-boosting (for the politicians, not the schools) cheque presentation ceremonies at the said schools.

One good example is the MCA head Ong Ka Ting and Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon making a beeline to the new Phor Tay school site in Bukit Jambul to visit the construction site and also handover a cheque during the election campaign period. Now, where was the be neutral directive?

Granted, these schools need the funding so of course they welcomed the cheques with open arms even if it meant having to play up to the big egos of those politicians. I don't blame them (the schools, not the sleazebag politicians) a bit. Many Chinese and Tamil schools have been left in the dust while national type schools were continually pumped with money that their classrooms looked nicer than my office. So, of course, they will welcome anybody who wishes to give them funding, whatever their intentions. And some of these schools, as a show of courtesy and gratefulness, invariably invite the same politicians or their representatives to their functions. It is only natural. Tit for tat.

The education ministry does not seem to have any problem with this at all. In the past. Then suddenly, they realised it is not okay at all for politicians to be involved in school functions. What, they are suddenly worried about the negative influence of politicians on the young impressionable minds of our students? Isn't it too late after 50 years of politicians turning schools into their campaign grounds?

The excuse ...'we do not want to offend any party' by state acting education director Ibrahim Mohamad is far from lame. It is an insult to our intelligence. Please, spare us. Which party are you referring to anyway? Any guesses anyone? Oh, ya. Since the directive is only to five states, we all know which party they meant exactly.

Sigh. Those Brainless Nobodies or BN are just plain sore. They lost the states but still want control of one of their more lucrative campaign grounds so they concocted this brilliant directive. What are they teaching the students? That it is alright to be sore losers and perfectly fine to use underhanded tactics to regain control?

If they want to issue such a directive, why not to all schools in the whole of Malaysia? But I guess, as morons go, we should not expect much from them. After all they are the masters of double standards, the gurus of corruption, the kings of sore-losers, the heads of cronyism and the presidents of the stupidity associations.

As a fellow colleague always told me, 'Stupidity can't be cured'. This is a point in case to prove that!


The news on this verbal directive extracted from The Sun:

Schools in 5 states told to be neutral
Regina William

PENANG (March 26, 2008): Schools in the five states controlled by the opposition coalition have been verbally adviced to take a neutral stance in inviting executive councillors or state assemblyman for official functions.

And this is being interpreted to mean that the schools should refrain from inviting executive councillors or assemblymen from opposition parties, at least until further notice.

Following a statement by Deputy Penang Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy that there were rumours schools were issued verbal instructions not to invite state executive councillors for functions, theSun checked with the Penang education department and confirmed that there was such a move.

Acting state education director Ibrahim Mohamad said schools have been verbally told to take a neutral stand for the time being.

"For now, the ministry has adviced that schools should invite government officials and not anyone from any political parties as we do not want to offend any party," Ibrahim said in a telephone interview.

He said the directive was issued by the department after being advised by the Education Ministry to take a neutral stand.

Ibrahim said he understood that the same directive was issued to education departments in all five states governed by the opposition.

"For now, we have been asked to take this stand until further instructions from the ministry," he said.

Earlier, Ramasamy said State Secretary Datuk Jamaludin Hasan has been asked to investigate whether such a directive existed.

Ramasamy, who is also education committee chairman, said he had heard about verbal directives being issued to schools but there was no written instruction to that effect.

"I heard about this a few days ago when I went to visit a Tamil school which was in a poor condition. However, I did not go into the compound and stayed outside.

"I have not verified this and to be fair, it is not right for me to say anything since we do not know if this is just a rumour. I will give them the benefit of the doubt as it might not be true and we have to clarify this.

"We have asked Jamaludin to check on this and get back to us," Ramasamy said after a press conference chaired by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said so far, no official invitations had been extended to the state government by schools. "If they invite us, we are obliged to go and no one should stop schools from inviting us."

When contacted, a school in Petaling Jaya said they had enquired about this but were told to wait for a directive before doing anything.

You get your summonses waived and you are crying foul?

It is really strange that there are actually people who are dead against the Penang CM's decision to cancel all summonses related to illegal hawking and parking offences issued before March 11.

What's it to them anyway?

One of them is former councillor Dr Goh Ban Lee who seemed to think it is illegal and wrong and against good governance. Blah.Blah. Blah.

Err, hello?? Relieving the people's burden is wrong and illegal? Sure, it may not be such a huge sum for some but for the hawkers, it could mean saving a few hundred ringgits which they could put to good use, like getting new plates or more environmentally-friendly packaging or new school books for their kids or new school uniforms.

What is so wrong with that? Oh, ya, right.

There was no provision in the Local Government Act for the chief minister to waive local council summonses.

The former councillor, who seemed to think he is a law-abiding, upright, exemplary and perfect citizen, accused the CM and the Perak MB of misusing their powers to interfere in the workings of local councils.

Excuse me Dr Goh, what is your problem anyway? Are you just sore that the Opposition parties took over the Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kedah state governments? Aren't you just grasping at any fault you can find to make them look like incompetent, unlawful leaders?

Sure, there was no provision in the Act but that does not make it unlawful. This in itself is a big huge loophole for the Penang CM or Perak MB to waive summonses if they deem it fit. Besides, do bear in mind that he said it is only summonses issued before March 11. Not all summonses forever.

The Penang CM's intention was good and not meant to harm or victimise anyone. So, why this Goh fella insists on making seem as if the CM had killed his firstborn and he (Goh) is out for vengeance?

Hmm...perhaps he had just only settled all his summonses right before the CM made his announcement. That must have frustrated him no end to spur him to tell all and sundry (The Star, The Sun, NST) that it is an illegal move! ;-)

Whatever his and his few supporters' reasons (shocking it may seem, there are quite a few people who agreed with him), I am certain I can safely vouch for the general public in Penang that they have no complaints about the waiver at all.