DRY-RUN AND HONEYMOON OVER

On 30 May, I completed my fourth month into blogging and this post is my 86th. OK I suppose, but I am always haunted by what 2 commentators said when I launched my maiden post on 30 January 2007. Linken Lim asked me to "keep your promise to reveal anything swept under the carpet and unmasking the sweepers" and Michael urged me "to keep true to your mission statement."

Let's say that these 4 months have been a dry-run and now is as good a time as any to do the right stuff.....looking under the carpet.

In reply to the 48 commentators in that maiden post I did appeal to them to let's put our shoulders together to the task. Over the months we have read in the MSM on whistle-blowers. I honestly do not like this term. It has a negative connotation like in snitching. I would rather we refer to our resources as PWC - people who cares.

Because we care, we want to uproot the stifling weeds and the life-sapping parasites to stem the haemorrhaging of public funds. As such, shouldn't we be asking questions like: Where is Daim with his billions; what happened to Halim Saad with his millions; where is Akhbar Khan; where is AP king, Azman and is MB Toyo demolishing Zakaria's Mansion?

Shouldn't Sports Minister Azalina tell us the whereabout of the RM700k architect's fees to "revonate" Brickendonbury, or whether anything else is hidden from DPM and the rakyat.

Shouldn't we depoliticize state institutions like the SEDCs, town/city councils who are invariably endowed with longer arms and deeper pockets.

Should we use the next General Election to RESTRUCTURE rather than to reform?

Shouldn't we demand swift accountability across the board from leaking pipes to leaky mouths?

Shouldn't we put an end to our elected political-sycophants' plundering and piratise-ing tax-payers money?

Why are we still tolerating a government that is forever giving excuses that even a vegetable is ashamed of?

Why are we putting people in government who have not learned from the past, not worrying about our future and unashamedly screwing up our present?

Why are we still tolerating MPs and State Assemblymen who dont show up when you need them because they say they are busy - as busy as a dog with two pricks. So busy that they wonder how leaks can happen instead of wandering around to look for "leaks" and "leads".


Shouldn't we also depoliticise religion. Religion teaches good values. We have failed in this area and failed miserably after 50 years . Just visit our National Zoo at Jl. Parliament and experience the stark difference between good values and desecrated values.

So People Who Cares....if you have something to whisper in my ears go to ktswee@hotmail.com

ZORRO SALUTES the SUN'S FAB FOUR

The Sun, the Edge and Off the Edge are must reads for me....daily, weekly and monthly respectively.

It has been my pleasure and a great thrill learning that my long-time beer-buddy together with his Sun-buddy Terence Fernendez won Certificate of Excellence for Public Service Journalism. It was a pleasure being introduced to Terence at the Australian Envoy's Media Nite do. I admire their doggedness, perseverance, fearlessness in the tackling of issues that few journalist choose to take.

Jacqueline Ann Surin I came to know when she was in the University of Malaya and had already then acquired a reputation as a debater and a person with deep convictions. I followed Jacq when she was with the Star and now look forward to her columns. This is her second award this year.

I have not met Danny, but will one of these days....maybe at the National Press Club.

To you Four, more power to you and may the force be with you.

Some background on SAPO and citations:

SOPA ANNOUNCES 2007 EDITORIAL
EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS

Hong Kong (May 23, 2007) - The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) announced today the winners of its 2006 awards for Editorial Excellence. Winners were selected for 17 categories for English language media and Chinese language media. In its eighth year, the SOPA Editorial awards received a record high of 508 entries from leading publications across the region. The 93 judges comprised respected journalists, editors and academics from top national and regional media and top universities based in Asia.

"The bar of editorial excellence continues be pushed to new heights and the winners should feel proud of their outstanding achievement and contributions in the field of journalism," said Alan Lammin, SOPA Chairperson.

"We had a remarkably strong collection of winning entries this year, which shows that the dramatic increase in the overall number of submissions for SOPA Awards is being accompanied by a commensurate rise in overall quality," said SOPA Director of Judges David Plott, from the University of Hong Kong's Journalism and Media Studies C

Group B
Excellence in Public Service Journalism

Award : R Nadeswaran & Terrence Fernendez : The Sun (Low Cost Palace)
The Sun : Fresh, ambitious reporting that made an impact on political cronyism. A tenacious piece of investigative journalism in a country where it can be difficult to do this kind of reporting.

13. Excellence in Opinion Writing.

Group B
Award : The Sun (Surin's Opinion Series)
The Sun : Brave opinion writer. Jacqueline Ann Surin's essays examine the cracks in Malaysia's facade of moderation. Clearly, non- Muslims, ethnic minorities and women are facing new challenges to their liberties. Ms. Surin examines them in unstinting fashion, from a perspective that is quite personal and therefore very powerful.

5. Excellence in Feature Photography

Group B
Honorable Mention : Danny Lim: Off the Edge (Ronggeng Revolusioner

GOVERNMENT MUST HEED SYED SHAHRIR'S REQUEST!

This family used to live in the squatters that used to dot Puchong. When their home was razed, the father left a message with a neighbour that he was leaving Lisa and the four girls for good. This family rented a low-cost unit for RM400 per month but had to downgrade to another that cost RM350 per month. This single-mother earns RM500 as a cleaner with a cleaning contractor. All 4 girls are schooling. If she reports sick and do not have an MC, her pay is docked. Is it easy to juggle the remaining RM150 for food, transport, schooling? Some months, because of some emergencies, power is cut and the girls do their school work at the bottom of the airwell, a common area where electricity is provided.

Somebody last week made a revelation that the BN will again win hands-down the next General Election because all civil servants are happy. So happy that one department even volunteered to work Saturdays and Sundays. No, I am not grudging them this windfall. The lower grade civil servants deserve this long-overdue extra, They really deserve the pay-rise. If they are happy, they will vote BN.

On the other side of the coin, has the government given thought to the fact that majority of the electorate are employed by the private sector? So, the BN better brace themselves with this stark truth. They have to listen and take heed of the oft-repeated plea to raise the minimum wage of the private sector. Already some foreign maids are being paid more than RM400-RM500 and there are millions of Malaysians in the private sector who still earn below the poverty level.

The Ministry of Human Resources and the Cabinet must heed the call of MTUC President, the soft-speaking and incorruptible Syed Shahrir Syed Mohamud who is demanding RM900 as minimum wage plus RM300 as cost of living allowance for every private sector employee.


The Cabinet best pay heed to this request rather than the mundane request that Manchester United must play in Malaysia. The government cannot, I repeat, cannot ignore the impending MTUC memorandum that will be presented to the Prime Minister. Just a one-day-strike by the private sector will white-wash the Visit Malaysia Year and leave a distasteful flavour to the 50th Anniversary celebrations. Just one day!

The MTUC must stay the course. Don't say you might strike. Tell the government: We WILL lay down tools. Tuan Syed will never be bought unlike......

The government has taken care of their people but isn't Lisa and the thousands like Lisa, also Malaysians. Give these unfortunate Malaysians, young and old a fair chance to survive. We are fifty years old and we have not ratified this anomaly. Will the BN Government care. WE WAIT, WE WATCH.

WHAT NEXT?

WE HAD BOLEH-LAND. THEN WE GOT BLASTED WITH BODOH-LAND, AND NOW WE ARE FLOODED WITH BOCOR-LAND. WHAT LAND NEXT? GET TO WORK PROPHETS!

TAKE A GOOD REST SIR

BUT AS THE CAPTION SAYS: NO ONE CAN FORCE YOU TO GO QUIETLY!

Sir, as a senior citizen I can empathize with you. The work is never done and to leave it undone is just isn't in our blood. However, Tun there comes a time when we need to just sit back, re-energize, recharge, enjoy the family and just shoot the breeze. Do that and when you come back, you'll still be needed, if not to probe, at least to encourage. Cape diem, sir. And as a parting shot: Sir, boleh kah, sometimes listen to your children when they ask you to slow down or take it easy....one day at a time.

BEWARE THESE WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.

THIS POSTING IS DEDICATED TO JUNE, DAPHNE, LI TSIN AND OTHER FEMALE BLOGGERS WHO ARE BEING HARASSED, OR WILL BE TARGETED IN FUTURE.

He : Can I buy you a drink?
She : Actually, I'd rather have the money.

He : I am a photographer. I've been looking for a face like yours.
She : I am a plastic surgeon. I've been looking for a face like yours.

He : Hi, didn't we go on a date once? Or was it twice?
She : Must have been once. I never make the mistake twice.

He : How did you get to be so beautiful?
She : I must have been given our share.

He : Will you go out with me this Saturday?
She : Sorry, I am having a headache this weekend.

He : Go, don't be shy. Ask me out.
She : OK, Get out.

He : Can I have your name?
She : Why? Don't you have one?

He : Your face must have turned a few heads.
She : And your face must have turned a few stomachs.

He : I think I could make you very happy?
She : Why? Are you leaving?

He : What would you say if I asked you to marry me.
She : Nothing. I can't laugh and talk at the same time.

He : Shall we go for a movie?
She : I have already seen it.

He : Where have you been all my life?
She : Hiding from people like you.

He : Haven't I seen you some place before?
She : Yes. That is why I don't go there anymore.

He : Is this seat empty?
She : Yes and this one will be empty if you sit down.

He : So, what do you do for a living?
She : I am a female impersonator.

He : Hey babe, what's your name?
She : DO NOT ENTER.

He : Your body is like a temple.
She : Sorry, there are no services today.

He : If I could see you naked, I'd die.
She : If I see you naked I would probably die laughing.

ZAM HEADING FOR FIJI NOW

REMEMBER THIS MOST POPULAR ESS-LUBANG? HE IS EVERY BLOGGERS FAVORITE SON. HE TRAVELS ROUND THE WORLD TO FIND OUT HOW TO BLOCK BLOGS. THE LAST BOO-BOO WAS WHEN HE TRIED TO TEACH BBC HOW TO DO THEIR JOB WHEN HE CANT TEACH HIS PEOPLE HOW TO SAY NO: BOSS SAYS WE CANNOT FEATURE YOU IN THIS PROGRAM....INSTEAD HIS STAFF SAYS THAT THE PROGRAM IS POSTPONED. BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN SO STUPIDLY STUPID THE BIG BOYS WANT HIM TO GO TO FIJI TO LEARN HOW TO LIE PROFESSIONALLY AND NOT BE AN UNPROFESSIONAL LIAR.
FIJI IS IN HIS SIGHTS BECAUSE:

Fiji's war on bloggers

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May 11, 2007 - 4:46PM

The military in Fiji is moving to shut down access to anti-government weblogs after unsuccessful attempts to find those responsible for the sites.

Senior military commander Colonel Pita Driti has told Pacific Radio that access to the sites would be closed down this afternoon.

Internet technology in Fiji is provided through only one provider, Fiji International Telecommunications Limited (FINTEL).

A FINTEL spokesman confirmed he had met with members of the the interim administration this morning and been asked to shut off access to the weblogs.

He said they asked that access be cut off to the blog for "national security" reasons.

"They asked us to address a few things. We have given them some options to consider, because we can't just go into the web and stop access. It would be unfair to the general public," the spokesman said.

"We will address the blog sites, but they need to direct us about what we are to do. We can't just go in and stop anything and everything. It must be specific," he said.

Asked whether FINTEL would block access to the blogspot.com website, where most of the anti-government sites are hosted, he said the company may have little choice.

"If the directive is to block, then we have no other option but to comply. ... we are seeking authorisation on that from our administration," he said.

He said any moves to cut-off access to the blogspot website would not happen by this afternoon.

Weblogs in Fiji have become a popular way for people to speak out about the government led by military chief Frank Bainimarama, who seized power on December 5 last year in a coup.

Sites including Intelligentsiya, Resist Frank's Coup and Discombobulated Bubu, have broken stories that have embarrassed the interim government.

In March Fiji military spokesman Neumi Leweni said efforts were underway to establish exactly who was producing material for Intelligentsiya.

The military has since said it could not determine who was publishing the information.

The United States has accused interim government in Fiji of trying to censor television news broadcasts and said the military had "detained, interrogated, and abused" people who wrote letters to the media opposing the coup.

"On a radio talk show on December 22, Bainimarama stated that if pro-democracy activists did not shut their mouth, the military would shut it for them," the US report said.

Major Leweni did not immediately respond to phone calls this afternoon.

AAP

AUNTY KUAN'S NIGHT

MU brudders and sistas, this is Aunty Kuan, die-hard, hardcore, tru-blue MU moll. I bought her lunch today and she reminded me about tonight's extravganza. Aunty Kuan, has been in and out of hospital and has not been well, but when I met her this morning she beamed when she talked about tonight. I took this picture of her this morning. Her late husband Mr. "Bulldog" Kuan (not the motor-racer but a discipline master at St. Paul's Seremban) was my spiritual-mate (if you get my drift). I miss him dearly....less one spiritual kaki. However until she became ill, Aunty Kuan packed a mean "bottoms-up" kaki......"Bernard, give it straight, no watering it down, down the hatch!" still rings in my ear. I cannot be with her but I promised that I will "down the hatch" for her after the Bloggers United Meeting at LakeView Club tonight. OK you mad MU mob out there, send Aunty Kwan your MU mate a Get Well Greeting over the weekemd OK? Glory, Glory Man United.