MY NEW YEAR GIFT TO TWO BULLHEADED FRIENDS.

I have two friends, Balu and Keat. The former is 61 and the latter 58. I met them in the 80s during the Rukun Tetanga days. We are as thick as thieves and stubborn like mules. As such we get on infamously. I succeeded in taking them to the Post Office to register as voters in 2009. Until now I have not been able to convince them on where to put the X on their ballot papers. Continuous attempts to debate with them is like giving medicine to the already dead! Me too, I am stubborn and I am not giving up on these two recalcitrants because I believe and am convinced that there is a fine line between stubbornness and the positive side of that, which is dogged determination.  On reflection I might have been too impulsive, abrasively assertive and brutally aggressive, all born of dogged determination!  Looks like the stick has failed to do the trick so I have decided to try the proverbial carrot. I am done taking anymore bullshit from thenm. Tomorrow I will purchase Kee Thuan Chye’s latest book and give them as New Year’s Day present.

 If that does not work, I will invoke my favirute curse: May fireants make nest under their armpits.

Good idea yah, presenting them with the book. You can do likewise to friends, yes?

IS PAKATAN ABOUT TO LOSE THE KEY TO PUTRAJAYA GATE?

It is kick ass time for Pakatan if ever they aspire to take PutraJaya. Come 1Januay 2013, BN will unleash a MEDIA BLITZ aimed directly at the current feuding between the two stronger members of the Pakatan coalition – DAP and PAS. The government is said to have employed OGLIVY to damage this partnership. No! It has nothing to do with the use of the word ALLAH because DAP and PAS are not quibbling over this issue. IT IS ABOUT HUDUD! And Oglivy will set to make capital of this issue. Word that Anwar is calling the coalition together to settle the Allah debate may be misplaced. He has to get PAS and DAP to meet eyeball to eyeball and make a final statement on HUDUD!  DAP and PAS must be seen to be doing something about this prickly prattle.

Oglivy is reported to have met the BN media machine and all editors have been briefed on the strategy. It is pointless for Pakatan to employ any agency to contest this onslaught. They must hunker down into their bunkers and make harsh decisions. They cannot pussyfoot around this hudud issue. They cannot temporarily sweep it under the carpet. They must come upfront and tell us the pro-opposition rakyat what they will do to address this irritant “tissue”.

In the interim, we pro-pakatan bloggers and commentators in the Pakatan-friendly alternative media must desist from airing our self-gratifying tirades on perceived apparent miss-steps of the coalition. Nobody is perfect and infallible. It is no point enduring the long march to the gates of Putrajaya and lose the KEY on the way! The Pakatan triumvirate must cleanse their system of partisanship and self-interest and work towards, no matter how difficult, a common “masterkey” to unlock THAT gate!

A BIRTHDAY PRESENT SENT TO ME.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran’s, message to all men of goodwill on Christmas.

PLEASE VIEW ON FULL SCREEN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sItdWexO-PQ&feature=em-share_video_user

NAJIB MUST PROVE THAT HE IS NOT "OFF"!

HOW?

HERE!

TO ALL MALAYSIANS OF GOOD WILL.

AN UPLIFTING CHIRISTMAS STORY

HERE

I LED MY CLASSMATES TO THE LAVATORY.

In St. Xaviers, Penang our Form Five class had a teacher from India. He was an OK chap with a very thickly heavy Indian accent.

 He instructed me earlier to get the class to meet him in the lavatory. As class monitor for the month I got my classmates assembled and told them that Dr Sinna wants us to go to the lavatory. Why? Nobody queried. We all thought that he was up to introducing some practical science topics that necessitated visit to the lavatory. When the bell rang for period change we lined up  “two by two” and walked down to the lavatory with our Science text book and exercise note book. Outside the lavatory we waited in silence. As Dr Sinna was not in the toilet we continued to wait…..for close to 10 minutes. The best course of action was to look for him in the Staff Room which was next door to Lau Hor’s (Bro Michael, Canadian, was our Discipline teacher nicknamed Tiger in the Penang Hokkien dialect.) I told our form teacher Mr. Robless that I was looking for Dr. Sinna. I immediately went next door and before I could greet Bro Michael, Dr Sinna barked, “I was waiting for the class in the lavatory” The Lau Hor asked, “Where is your class now?” I replied that we were lined up outside the lavatory. Bro. Lau Hor understood my predicament and just said, “Take the class to the LA-BORA-TARY!” As though for the benefit of Dr Sinna, but addressed to me, “ Science Lab!” This was the same Bro Lau Hor that suspended me from school for two weeks before the Senior Cambridge Certificate Exam for reading Zane Gray whilst the others were revising for the SCC exam. He stepped into our class and announced, “Bernard, for being the only student who can read two books at a time. Go wait for me in my office!” I had camouflaged Zane Gray over my Geography text book. Undoubtedly those two weeks gave me enough time to accelerate my revision.

I became a teacher and for 19 years I taught English and English Literature. I think I was a good English teacher. I have nothing against teachers from India. But you must be able to speak and articulate correctly, putting emphasis on the key verb and the correct accent on the correct syllable….and discard ethnic and cultural foibles when teaching English.  An English teacher’s bible on proper pronunciations and phonetics should be Daniel Jones. My generation was taught by local Malayan-bred teachers!

The English medium schools were largely of two types: missionary schools and government schools. Historically, the English medium schools offered pupils a chance of upward social mobility. English medium schools were the best organized and most developed of all the schools in the country Success in these schools meant better jobs and white-collar employment which was preferred to manual labour. English medium schools were the prestige schools, and it was felt that the type and depth of knowledge they offered were superior to that of the vernacular schools. This situation had implications for the society as a whole, because these English medium schools were mainly urban schools. Together, the English medium sectors of the ethnic groups formed the English educated of Malayan society. My parents were the beneficiary of this. My generation inherited this legacy and opportunity to be educated in Engish.

However by the time I went to school our generation was taught by local Malayan-bred “Normal-Trained” teachers! The only expat teachers were principals of the Government schools and the remaining mission school teachers like the Mill Hill Fathers of Sarawak and the La Salle Brothers  in Peninsula Malaya.

The deterioration of English began, to quote a revered former Director General (Malay of course),”when our Teacher’s Training colleges were churning out some half-baked (yeastless, as in not getting a CREDIT in English, he qualified) scums of society were recruited into the teaching profession. Over the years, there has been a lot of kneejerk and quick fixes to no avail. And now this new recruitment drive…….when will we ever learn?

If we continue on these cosmetic changes we will continue to have ministers like Zam Zam alaka Zam telling the world thru Alzeera during the 2007 Bersih protest that we were having an erection in 2008

COULD ABU BE THE PANACEA?

SUPPORTING STORY HERE

PEACE TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN OF GOODWILL.

On Nov27,2011 I posted this straight from the heart message by Raja Zarith Idris, daughter of my former and favorite Perak Sultan and now consort of the current Sultan of Johor.

As Christmas, whose message has always been Peace to all men of goodwill, is just a few days away, HRH’s message of goodwill is riveting, stimulating and timely. At this time, when the Government and the Perdana Foundation are financing Perkasa to divide us according to our religion, her one year old message is comforting and have weathered the test of time without a squeak from the frogs like Ibrahim Ali, Hassan Ali and Zulkifli Nordin. Dang! I err here – frogs don’t squeak, they just emit monotonous croaks!

I printed HRH’s message for my brunch members yesterday morning and Shamshir, a Johorean added, ‘Your three frogs are afraid to be dissected by the Royal Johore Military Force!”

*****

An appropriate piece by Kee Thuan Chye HERE.

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO THE ABU WAR CHEST

ALL YOU NEED TO DO HERE

Wouldn’t your contribution be a worthy Christmas Gift

to an URGENT Cause

HAS BAR COUNCIL PRESIDENT LIM CHEE WEE BEEN POTTY TRAINED?

"If we believe a thing to be bad, and if we have a right to prevent it, it is our duty to try to prevent it and damn the consequences." — Lord Milner

Lim Chee Wee (above) must realize that it takes less time to do a thing right than to explain why you did it wrong. He should re-examine all that he has  been told . . . dismiss that which insults his integrity and his soul like instead of looking into a request by Haris, he takes to disparaging Deepak (on hearsay?) Isn’t hearsay anathema in law? Dang, what lawyer lah you?

As a leader, you have to not only do the right thing, but be perceived to be doing the right thing. A consequence of seeking a leadership position is being put under intense public scrutiny, being held to high standards, and enhancing a reputation that is constantly under threat.

Lest the Bar Council President is not aware, here is a reflection: "In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousandfold in the future. When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers . . . we are ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations." — Alexander Solzehnitsyn

Lest Lim Chee Wee needs more help here is a simple chart to SIT on! Click on image in case you are long-sighted.

GEBENG LAMP'S UNHOLY TRINITY

On Nov 5, I posted on grape grower Dr Looi Hoong Wah  defense of Lynas. HERE.

Datuk Looi should be given free supply of Lamp’s waste turned fertilizer for his grape plants. Guiness Book of Records will gladly recognize your strain of Lamp-Looi Cluster, for sure?

As for Adnan Yacob, don’t lob off your ear. It will be selfish to find a burial plot for just an ear! Instead just jump into the retention pond at Raub’s Bukit Koman Australian Gold Precessing Plant. That way you need no burial plot. Cynide will do the necessary, yes?

Political has been Tun Mahathir, said that if it was true that Lynas downstream product used in mobile is harmful we would all be brainless. It IS beginning to show from his ramblings, no?

READ WHAT TWO EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT LYNAS WASTES HERE

MY FRIDAY GUEST BLOGGER: HARIS ‘ABU’ SAM IBRAHIM

This was meant to be my usual Friday Guest Blogger but tests at UH took the whole day and by the time I got back home I was completely drained. I hope it will end all questions to me as to why Sam has been low-key of late. Dang, this man does not rest and when he does he snores like a cement-mixer in its throes of breaking down. We shared the same room in many by elections so I should know Nazri!

So HERE it is…….breathing fire and brimstone….when awake!

KU LI LASHES OUT AT PROSTITUTING PROFESSIONALS.

The Umno veteran lashes out at professionals for kowtowing to their political masters

KUALA LUMPUR: Professionalism is at its lowest point in history, said Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, citing “prostitution” in the law, police force and education, among others.“There can be prostitutes in each and every professional practise… people who are motivated by power, lust and greed for which they are willing to sacrifice the sacred trust that society has placed in them,” said Razaleigh.

In a strongly-worded speech at a dinner recently, Razaleigh, popularly refered to as Ku Li, said that unprofessional conduct was “most blatantly evident” in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).“Although established in the midst of much fanfare as part of the government’s reform programme, sad to say, the hopes of the people were dashed soon after it was formed,” declared the Gua Musang MP.“The people were disappointed when the agency appeared to show interest in petty matters while failing to address more urgent and important cases of corruption.”The death of two witnesses in the anti-graft agency’s headquarters, he said, had further stirred speculation about the professionalism and integrity of the officials there.“We are not unjustified in wondering if the agency is really serious about fighting graft, or merely finishing off political ‘enemies’,” said Razaleigh.He also levelled criticism at civil servants in general for “constantly pandering to political masters”.He cited their “deafening silence” in cases such as the alleged destruction of the Selangor state government’s records five years ago, after BN lost the state to the opposition coalition.“Not a whimper was heard from the custodians of public records in this country, despite the fact that they are believed to have their own code of professional ethics,” said Razaleigh.

Judiciary a tool of the executive

He said the trend continues to this day, referring to a case in which a former Directive of the Archives in Sabah made a political statement over the 20-Point point document signed prior to the formation of Malaysia.“The constant pandering to political masters on their own free will calls into question the extent of their professionalism,” said Razaleigh.He also slammed the judiciary, maintaining that it had declined in professionalism in“epidemic proportions” since the removal of Tun Salleh Abbas as Lord President in 1988.Salleh’s dismissal had been sparked by a fallout between Razaleigh and Mahathir Mohamed following a narrow Umno presidential election which the two contested in.Mahathir grew unhappy with the judiciary when Razaleigh’s supporters filed a suit in the High Court to obtain a court order for new elections, after Mahathir defeated Razaleigh with 761 votes to Razaleigh’s 718.This eventually lead to a tribunal against Salleh, which found him guilty of, among others, “undermining public confidence in the government’s administration”.“Since then, the impartiality, independence and basic honesty of the judiciary has been called into question time and time again,” said Razaleigh.“Since then, the Attorney-General’s Chambers has become the object of public odium, being perceived as a willing tool of the executive.”

Brain drain and racial polarisation

Even the education system was not spared; Razaleigh claimed that it was in “tatters” and placed the blame squarely on the BN-led government’s shoulders for creating the “rot”.“The drastic drop in educational standards is such that many parents shudder to think of putting their children through the Malaysian school system…“We may not like to hear it, but the sad truth is that the rot in our education system started with the executive interferences linked to the New Economy Policy,” he said.The New Economic Policy was launched in 1971 by former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak, and the portion dedicated to education in particular has received criticism for allegedly contributing to brain drain and racial polarisation.Meanwhile, Razaleigh lashed out at the police force for their “total lack of professionalism”, dating back to the time a former Inspector General of Police (IGP) used violence on Anwar Ibrahim when he was in police custody.“Sad to say, the image of the police force is at the lowest ebb today. There are many unexplained cases of deaths under police custody, creating unrest and agitation among the people of a certain community,” said Razaleigh.“The total lack of professionalism within the ranks of the police force was again clearly evident during the Bersih rally when violence and brutality was inflicted on innocent journalists and protestors in what could have been a peaceful protest.”He described the “post-rally propaganda” against Bersih, and especially its chairperson S Ambiga as “most shameful and unprofessional”.

Stand up to manipulation

In his speech, he also listed out the absence of professionalism in the military, the construction industry, and among accountants and doctors.“My concern is this: we do not want a profession to be prostituted – for if that happens the profession is condemned to suffer aids from which it might never recover,” said Razaleigh. Razaleigh urged professionals to resist such political interference, saying: “Sometimes the professionals are only too eager to please their political masters.“Everyone knows that wisdom among Malaysian politicians is rare, but perhaps few realise that the courage to tell the truth to people in power is just as rare, if not rarer among the professionals.”He said that for professionalism to take root in society, the public must avoid manipulation by “the powers that be”.“We can never aspire to be professional so long as we continue to be imprisoned by the feudal mentality that conditions our mind to blindly follow our leaders or those in positions of power and authority.”Razaleigh said Malaysians must remove the “kampong” mentality and work towards creating a new culture which reflects universally acceptable standards of professional conduct.

YOU NEED SCROTAL STAMINA TO SUSTAIN A FIRM STAND!

ANYMORE BESIDES THESE QUARTET?

WHO CARES?

It was comforting to hear of this outcome. It was encouraging to know that the Sarawak Natives were able together with lawmakers in Australia and Tasmania were able to convince Hydro Tasmania to retreat from their enthusiastic support of Taib’s land grab. In similar vein, the Anti Lynas activists must be applauded for their forays into Australia, on their own steam, to voice their plight.

Less talk and more action that is.

Back home the issue is: Will there be a smooth transition resulting from the choice the people make after GE13. What would both sides react? 

If three of us, Commander Thaya, Zaid Ibrahim and I have independently posted on this subject it is because we feel strongly about the aftermath of GE13 and thus is a pressing issue.

Zaid Ibrahim wrote:                                   

Judging by the speeches and statements of the party’s leaders, they will not. The Prime Minister himself announced that Putrajaya will be defended at all costs. UMNO leaders have described Anwar Ibrahim as an agent of foreign powers, sometimes even as an agent of the Jews. They warn that calamity awaits us all if the Opposition wins, in the form of national bankruptcy or even the recurrence of racial rioting. Can we trust such leaders to voluntarily and graciously hand over power to Anwar?

When the Barisan Nasional lost its two-thirds majority in 2008, the country was fortunate that we then had a Prime Minister who was a gentleman. Despite being pressured and humiliated by all quarters, Pak Lah made a statement well past midnight on that fateful day that saved us from harm. He said the Government must accept the people’s decision, and he left no doubt in anyone’s mind that the security of the country would not be compromised by the outcome of the General Election of that year.

He has more HERE.

Thaya’s earlier piece In Defence Of Our Realm, he volunteered that the most common question people who read his comment pieces ask is: "Which side will the armed forces take?"

All this Umno ‘war talk' of late naturally leads to the question of the role of the Malaysian Armed Forces in the event of a repeat of a ‘May 13' scenario, which Umno foresees will occur if BN loses federal power.

As reported in Bernama in 2004, former Air Force chief General Abdullah Ahmad said that officers and men of the RMAF should not bite the hands that feeds them. Quote - "We can analyse the situation ourselves. Are we that unreasonable and are we that ungrateful to oppose the government that provides us our livelihood?" he said.

However, blogger Brigadier General (Rtd) Mohd Arshad Ragi who blogs in Mind No Evil asserts HERE: "I am firmly against the use of the military, and they ought to be steadfast in remaining neutral.”

"The military today is not geared nor equipped for public order. In the days gone by, we even had a camera to be used for public order in the ‘equipment table' in all infantry units. Today, that item is out, and along with it, the gas mask, the stretcher and the banner. Even the Public Order Manual is today a museum piece."

In my earlier piece HERE I urged the think tanks to address this. I have said that this is no time to pussy foot around this issue when Najib himself said that at all cost they will not allow PutraJaya to be in opposition hands and then at the UMNO Assembly, the Cow Matriarch warned of an impending repeat of May 13. This is a serious threat! But the PDRM and the Home Ministry, always sensitive to seditious talk, arresting us for holding lighted candles, at one time for wearing black, for  protesting against 800 odd custodial deaths, has not even raised a whimper over such threats of pandemonium from UMNO. For sure we the rakyat cannot depend on them to protect us should chaos occur. As such we depend on the King and his Armed Forces to protect us and the country from sinking into anarchy. But will they. We can only get an assurance if they can publicly declare that they will stand by us. They can only do this at a public forum. Maybe the  rejuvenated and resurrected Paper that Cares might take up this dare…..only if it really DECLARES that it CARES. How about it Malay Mail?

In the meantime, like Zaid requested, the Opposition should spend more time assuring the rakyat that they too must assure us that they have in place a mechanism to forestall anarchy. They owe THIS to the people who  are determined to escort them into PutraJaya. As such, the opposition should not waste too much effort on pusillanimous pricks like Chua Tee Yong who until today cannot utter a word of defence on the costly bovine  blunder conceived and gestated by his Ministry.

*****

GENTLE NUDGE

How about it Malay Mail, are you up to Caring?.......

or must the ORDERS still come from upstairs?

If that BE the case

WHO CARES?

JUST A NOTE FROM JUSTUS

Subject: Stamford Research Assoiates (SRA) – Consulting company HQed in California.

Around period 1993/1994, the SRA office in Singapore was appointed by Dr Mahathir to undertake a complete restricting of his companies.

The project was executed on an extremely confidential basis. Their offices in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur were repartitioned with security features and access limited to only certain individuals and key personnel.

During the restructuring the Mahathir group of companies was valued at around USD5 billion.

The person heading this operation for SRA from the Singapore office was supposedly a Mr Ian Buchanan. He, however, left SRA for Boston Consulting Group in Australia and held responsibility for Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. In this role he was still providing consulting services to Dr M and his children’s companies.

He signed off with: Worth a prob! I checked your DOA (SPR check) on your sidebar and found out that I am still registered to vote. I Shall Return to vote and will find time to help in the campaign. Keep well, Brother Arnold Sir.

That has put me in some kind of bind. I do not have the resources and have to rely on you guys out there who have connections with the Big 4 Consulting organizations or some credible think-tanks who have the resources and where withal. Probably YBs in Pakatan with the necessary pull could put some icing to this pudding.

Just Who Is Justus? HERE

WE GATHERED, WE WALKED, WE CYCLE NOW.

JARINGAN RAKYAT TERTINDAN

OUR ANNUAL BOOSTER SHOT – UMNO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ANIL NETTO message this afternoon read: Hi Bernard, hope your health is holding up. Everything OK? I replied: Have been laughing myself into wellness since the UMNO GA. He replied back: They are so desperate and panicking.

On Friday the three doctors that took care of me when hospitalized,  remarked that I look so much better although no medicine was prescribed when discharged. I told them that I have been entertained into paroxysms of laughter provided by UMNO assembly. Dr K bin Kalid (evidently a Pakatan supporter) gave me a high-five. Dr T asked what then when the Assembly is over? I said I will venture online and read JOCELINE TAN. Laughter, of course, is alien to this UMNO Spin Mistress, as we have often heard that laughter is the best medicine except for treating verbal diarrhea. Nah, she still hasn’t got it despite many volleys fired at her. Haven’t we been entertained by her political humor that has gone beyond chortling at stupidity? She still has not realized that an UMNO friend in need is normally a pest! Can I suggest this new code of conduct for journalist like her, like a law that requires types like her be hooked up to lie detectors! On reflection  wouldn't truth detectors be more economical? Humor was in the air as Khairi, Adnan Yakob and Reezal Merican etc shared with the UMNO delegates. But all that escaped our Matahari Tan. Which reminds me of what Mohandas Gandhi cautioned, “If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.” As an English teacher let me remind Adnan that cutting off an ear and jumping into the river are not figurative per se. Cutting off the nose  to spite the face and go jump into the lake ARE. Ear, river? You would have got a clip behind the ears if you were in my English class. Go ask Terence Netto!

Have you found yourself in a fit of giggles just watching another person laugh non-stop? Why do we find other people's laughter so funny? I guess that's why they say laughter is infectious. But this kind of infection is a health benefit. So go on and spread the virus. And if you need help to get into a non-stop laugh riot, read these KEE THUAN CHYE’S offerings HERE. Soon you will have curious UMNO cybertroopers laughing with you!

I did and forgot to blog yesterday!