Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Sometimes non-missionary is more tight and smooth

Still far from the non-conventional Donald Trump campaign

Dunno what made us use that as a title.

Perhaps, it was a video sent by a friend on a Mek Kelate talking openly of her sexuality. What was meant is less suicidal or brutal political campaign can be just as focused and effective.

Saw few pro-BN commentators so vehemently against the selection of Datin Mastura as BN candidate because she is in mourning or according to Islamic hukum Iddah, she could not go out of the house, attend any form of festivities and various other restriction. This Iddah restriction is strictly on the wives, but not on husband in the case for death of the wife.

The rather petty religious restriction became an issue since it is a non-conventional political practise in UMNO and conservative interpretation of Quran that has evolved into traditional practise of Islam and culture in Nusantara Melayu.

The issue attracted The Star to highlight the unorthodox campaign tactic by UMNO. Now, UMNO can say they are also giving PAS a walkover thus disputing Tun M claim that PAS giving UMNO a walkover:

Monday, May 30, 2016

Al Fatihah ... the passing of an era


Received several Whass App messages informing the passing away of Ghani Karim, the ex-guitarist for the 80s to early 90s band, Freedom. Berita Haria has this report here.

Ghani made his mark as guitarist for the JB originate rock band in the early 70s, Heavy Machine before joining Freedom:

NST Oct 23rd 1986

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Rosmah's diamond in the rough

Some of the badly intended posters to ridicule Rosmah

When Dato Najib tookover the premiership and the PM's wife was seeking for a cause celebre, we were encouraged that she took up the cause of early education. 

Coming from family of cikgus, we have heard their complains of parental neglect for children education all our live. One area low to middle class Malay family seldom took it easy on is pre-school.

Pre-school education is important for children and Malay parents have been taking it lightly. Off course, not to the extreme of enrolling 3 year children for tuition classes. Child development should allow a child to be a child and have the experience of growing up as a child.  

Our mother had all her life been a teacher and she could spot a child with the potential to succeed in education from day one they are enrolled in standard one. That is how important pre-school child development is. Off course, potential is one thing but realising it is another.

Thus for Permata, in which part of it is dedicated to nurture potentially gifted children.

Friday, May 27, 2016

Hands off


Since the March 2016 posting [read here], we felt a sense of regret for the outburst. As recent as last night over dinner out of town, a close confidante was berating about how wrong we were for getting too personal.

"Orang lain lantaklah but you cannot be that because you ...." Blah blah blah as he continues. 

We begin to make amends for that posting in April as we plead that we not burn the mosquito net. In Tuesday's posting on the Lims, we wrote:
"What a pity that UMNO did not take up on this issue. Maybe they are not ready to defend MACC yet. By right, they should support MACC because they have come through to investigate Lim Guan Eng."
We still want to believe in the system and see corruption erdicated.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Where everybody thinks they can't win


The above picture is the two feuding Division Head of UMNO Sungai Besar, Dato Mohd Jamal Yunos and his Deputy, Dato Ramli Nordin together during a recent visit by DPM Dato Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Election Director for the Sungai Besar by-election, Dato Noh Omar.

The Utusan report on Tuesday using the picture was calling for unity. Supposedly both the feuding parties in Sungai Besar could discard their differences to work together and defend UMNO's incumbency at Sungai Besar.

Zahid was also reported saying BN to defend Sungai Besar as underdog but do a Telok Intan upset. The similarity between Telok Intan and Sungai Besar will be internal quarrel within the opposing party, or in this case, opposition parties.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

BSI noose tightening already?


Lim Kit Siang's posting on the latest development on BSI was about noose tightening. It is not any noose but global noose involving the 1MDB scandal.

Since some commentator desperately wanted our take on the latest development on BSI Singapore, here is a quickie. In half hour got to rush for treatment in Taman Maluri. Want to stick to the plan to write today on the two upcoming by-elections.

Back to Kit Siang's posting.

According to the posting here, there are three developments happening that will hang Dato Najib and the government.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Honeymoon over for the Lims

The all spectacled Lim family

Thank gawd it is only a bruise. The Orthopaedic suggested rest and gave voltaren gel for heeling.

Still no honeymoon. Need to get the pain away. So unnatural to sit on a cushion. And, this relatively short posting is about honeymoon.

It was 2009. DAP tookover Penang in 2008. Thanks to Pak Lah. Or these days, it is also said as thanks to Tun Mahathir.

Pak Lah had vacated the premiership and we were beginning to be comfortable socialising within the UMNO circle again. In one event, we came across a Gerakan leader. No more now but there was something he said that rings a bell today.

The Gerakan leader studied in the US. We had a common friend from the student activism days abroad. That became the opening line to start a conversation. When we raised about Penang, he stopped it and invited us over to his office for a chat. He introduced his assistance, Johan.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Pain in the arse


Implosion and conflict are every where in the rough and tumble of national politics which should be more accurately described as Semenanjong politics.

To many, the Sarawak state election are disjointed with happenings in national or Semenanjong politics. It is a whole different political terrain, demography and generally, the whole make-up. This is where we do not concur.

Though seemed disjointed, there were events in the past in Sarawak that sparked series of events in Semenanjong.

There have been turn of event that stated in Sarawak that became national. Many had forgotten that it was DAP Sarawak that first cut ties with PAS that later culminated into dissolving of Pakatan Rakyat and PAS went alone.

What happened with DAP and PKR in Sarawak could explode into a bigger implosion within the parties and start a bitter war between them. The by-elections that arise from the helicopter mishap at Batang Lupar could be provide a glimpse into the true intention of PAS.

There is also something learned and need be shared from the travel through Sarawak. Unfortunately, we may not be in the position to do so. It have been quite a pain in the arse to even do this short posting to end the over 2 weeks of no posting and a month of May of inactivity.

Monday, May 09, 2016

More than 2 weeks in Sarawak


Been more than 2 weeks in Sarawak.

Today, we are flying from Sibu to Kuching to join the missus due to arrive tomorrow. She has been asking about Mom's Laksa. So we shall.

And, a Melanau has got his wife to prepare a Mukah version of the umai which he claimed as the authentic Sarawak sushi.

Also looking forward for seafood at Top Spot.

Since arriving Miri on April 20th, we have been traveling extensively and passed through places like Bekenu, Merudi, Senardin, Pujut, Piassu, Lambir, Telang Usan and Niah. Except for Pujut, all the seats were won by BN.

A local political commentator expected Pujut to be won but Piassu lost to DAP. Talk is there was a corporate game from one of the Big 6 that reverse the forecast.

We weren't remotely involve. Hardly posted anything about politics throughout the campaign. Not making the same mistake as before to dabble in area we do not have enough feel

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