FARE THEE WELL MY DEAR FRIEND.

This morning was quality time spent sending off a friend of 42 years to his final rest - Anthony Quentin Petrus, Sonny to family and just plain Tony to friends.

The NST reported:

PETALING JAYA: Retired senior police officer Anthony Petrus died yesterday. He was 76. He leaves behind a wife and five children.

Petrus joined the force in 1952 as an Inspector and became the Petaling Jaya police chief in the 70s. He retired while serving as the Penang police chief, ranked Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SAC) 1, in 1986. After his retirement, Petrus spent his time helping the Orang Asli community in Seremban.

He was rushed to the University Malaya Medical Centre on Monday after suffering from breathing complications. He died of kidney failure at 3.50pm yesterday.

The MSM did not report that he had a stint as the field commander of the FRU in Ipoh. He became the security chief of Genting Highlands but for reasons known only to a few of us, walked out of the comfy job. A RAMROD STIFF POLICE OFFICER JUST DO NOT WORK AS SECURITY CHIEF. PERIOD, PERIOD, PERIOD. (It is so different today. HANTU told me of many still-in-service top guns moonlighting as CEOs and Directors of the plethora of Security Organisations sprouting in the country. Not true yah?)

Yes, Tony was the untouchable, the incorruptible. I remember at an APEX CLUB post-mortem meeting of which I was the organising Chairman and he the President of this service club, he blew his top when RM15 could not be accounted for. He barked: "Bernard, you are the chair, you are responsible....we will deal with the treasurer later...but as of now, you are the chairman, you are responsible....give me the RM15." Fearfully obedient (definitely not a trait of mine, I swear to you) I complied. After the meeting, he spent more than RM15 buying three of us beers at Salt & Pepper.
That was the man....ramrod strict....incorrigibly firm.....but admirably fair. He was like an elder brother to me and a mentor to boot, during my unholy bachelor days. He was the only one who told me in the presence of the future Mrs. Zorro, "I will fry your ass if you allow this woman to get out of your sight." What type of a friend is that? Well, he was that type of a friend I had....that some of you did not have.

In 1977 I was assigned to a school where drugs and indiscipline were imperceptibly creeping in. I was made the discipline master and Prefect Master. Six months into the job I changed the prefectorial board. I made up my mind that this was a school where you do not need top students or teachers' lap dogs to do a man's job. Through some networking I selected my group, the street-wise kids who knew the "ropes". I suited them into jackets and when installation ceremony came around, I got TONY PETRUS, THE OCPD OF PETALING JAYA, to pin the prefect's badge on their jacket lapels. Can you just imagine the boost those "reformed" mobsters had? It was not a word yet in those days, but Tony's speech EMPOWERED those kids. THE SCHOOL WAS CLEAN BEFORE YEAR END.

FAREWELL MY FRIEND....AND WHEN YOU FINALLY NOW GET A CHANCE TO HAVE A BEER WITH THE LORD, SPARE A THOUGHT FOR US WHOSE LIVES YOU TOUCHED. I PROMISE THAT I WILL LOOK IN AT JANET.

A DEAD FISH HANDSHAKE....THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

DEAD FISH OR LIMP FINGERS?

As a student of Body Language (or non-verbal communications) this photo of the two warring incumbent and former Prime Ministers sent out so many messages.

Allow me to share some notes I gathered from two internationally acclaimed experts Allan Pease and Lillian Bjorseth who I refer to extensively whenever I conduct seminars on communications:

Handshakes
Another vital component you need to bring to any interpersonal encounter is a firm handshake. Again, those few seconds you "shake" can empower or weaken a relationship. Men's handshakes are typically strong and firm because they naturally have a stronger grip.

Women, get a grip and be noticed! I once got a client because the man I shook hands with remarked about my strong handshake and asked what I did. He decided it was time to hire me to teach his people how to shake hands, too! I kid you not.

Being familiar with the following handshakes will help you immensely in your relationship-building activities:

Controller
A person extends his hand to you, web-to-web, and as soon as your hands are linked, he purposely maneuvers his hand onto the top. He's telling you he wants to be in charge. Keep that in mind as the interaction continues.

Sandwich
Use this one only with people you know. When you envelop another person's hands, you are invading their private space ... where you are to be only when invited. Society promotes the standard handshake but is not as tolerant of using both hands. By the way, this handshake is also known as the politician's handshake ... which may be cause enough for most people to avoid it!

Dead Fish
Imagine rubbing a scaly, dead fish in your hands ... and you got the picture. Your hands typically are wet for two reasons: You are nervous or you have been holding a cold beverage in your right hand and move it to your left just before you shake hands. In either case, it is extremely unpleasant for the receiver. If you experience anxiety, wipe your hands on a napkin, the tablecloth or even lightly on your sampin. What you spend at the dry cleaners will be paid for quickly by the better impression you make. As for the beverage, use common sense. This type of person, who places a limp, lifeless hand in yours, is sending a negative message.

Limp Fingers
Women, far more than men, extend their fingers rather than their entire hand. It can be painful for the extender, when she is greeted by a man who shakes with his forceful grip. Men tell me this frequently leads to their giving women a lighter handshake. Professional women respond that they want to be treated equally. One of the ways to combat this syndrome is to always extend you full hand (never cup it) horizontally, even if your grip is light.

Sanitary

This person will barely put three or four fingers in your hand—and then withdraw them quickly, almost as if afraid of catching a dread disease. They appear timid and sheepish.

PEOPLE, YOU FIGURE HOW IMPLOSIVE AN UMNO HANDSHAKE CAN BE?

ONE IN THE PIC AIN'T A BLOGGER FOR SURE.

Blog support: Raja Petra (right), talking to Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong outside the CCID after he was called in to be quizzed by the police yesterday over an article he posted on his website on April 25. Looking on are some of the bloggers who turned up at the CCID in support of Raja Petra.

The caption by Star was not correct. 5 bloggers were pictured but the guy (circled) between me and Shanghai Stephen I have not met in blogsphere and neither have my 5 friends. Earlier I had seen him mingling amongst the media people, so that was ok. I saw him next when Wee and Rocky tried to gain admittance into the Complex. I saw this same guy amongst the police personnel talking to Wee and Rocky. And now he is in the picture. WHO IS HE? RPK supporter? Agent? SB's planted twig? BN extra? No wonder Eric Voon ( I Am A Malaysian) kept saying he smelt something mangy.

People, do excuse us Bloggers when we go a little bit overboard and overly suspicious. Can't help it sometimes when we are picky....how do you expect us to react when some are targeted as easy pickings.....especially when it is not fruit picking season.

BREAKING NEWS 1: RPK's lawyers sms-ed that the police may still want to talk to Raja Petra again burt this time he has no more computers to "lend" the police. BTW all you RPK fans out there why dont we start a fund to get RPK another laptop. Every time the coppers "borrow" one we will get him another one. Hoi YewTube Tony, you did a great job collecting funds for BUM2008....can you do likewise. I want to start the fund rolling with RM10....sacrifice one beer, no problem. According to Tony over beers at the PJ Club, his video clip invited 13,000 hits and if each contributed RM1 we could have a mini-warehouse of lap-tops for RPK.

BREAKING NEWS 2: The police had made arrangements to meet Citizen Nades at 10.00am this morning at his office. He tells me that they have postponed it to tomorrow at 11.30am. I asked HANTU what was that all about. He is giving me the cold treatment since last night. Ah well, he will come around.....he will.

CROW-SHOOT ON A SUNDAY?

If there is one thing predictable about HANTU, it us this. He keeps the Sabbath holy. He never works on a Sunday. He doesn't gossip on Sunday. He doesn't surf on a Sunday. He is literally in a stupor on Sunday as a result of a malt-inebriated Saturday night. As such I do not get any visit from him on a Sunday. He is literally and spiritually immobile on a Sunday. I was surprised he swooped down on me when I was celebrating Musa Scully's birthday at Farida, my breast-mates home at 7:15pm. He was abusive,.He was asking where the %$#@ I was. I told him that I was at Central Market for the launch of BENAR. He accused me of lying because he went there and did not find me there. I told him I was then down at the enigmatic Hishammuddin Rais' joint downstairs savoring beers with Haris, Fisherman Gus Gan, Benny YewTube Tony, Nat and Politikus and probable new blogger Kendrick. He burped a foul wasabe breath and again said that Yang Berkhidmat Eli Wong directed him to Hishamuddin Rais bistro but I was not there. "Where the @#$% really were you" he sneered. I cautioned him about using the F word on a Sunday and told him that we then adjourned to the PJ Club. I was on my best Sunday behavior and said to him, "I dont interfer with your life on a Sunday and I would appreciate it if you do the same. I don't think Musa likes you at all barging in on his birthday do. What's your beef anyway?"
Bird expletives followed but deleted. Musa sprinkled a splash of 30year old Famous Grouse to cool him down which he did finally and after he swallowed a huge chunk of Farida's ;must -die-for' meat loaf. said: "I don't like it when bas@#$%* take pot-shots at my kind....especially on a Sunday....and in the vicinity of a church."

This was serious shit I realised. This SOB (son of a bird) was in a foul mood and the sooner he gets answers or tells his story, he was going to mess up Musa's party. In between making goo-goo eyes at the ladies, Mrs Zorro, Sheryl, Pearly, Fadzi, Zai, and Roziah he said that a few guys let off 20 gun-shots near the Esso kiosk and the parameter of the St.Francis Xavier Church during the evening Mass. "WTF were those guys shooting at on a Sunday. There are no brother crows around? Twenty rounds! Get me some answers: Was it intimidation because the priest was using the word Allah in his sermon this evening." With that he gave a knowing wink at the ladies, gave me his middle-claw offensive gesture and flew off.
People, help me with some answers will you. I don't want to run foul of Hantu when he is is such a foul mood. Please people, those of you who were in Church.....give us some feedback....and where did these crows come from or who drove them towards the Church?

ONLY GOOD EDITORS STAND BY THEIR PEOPLE.

My friendship with journalists goes as far back as the early 60s. Yes I have been hard on some journalist only because they allowed their pieces to be butchered by their hired-gun editors. I can empathise with those who allowed this to happen because of bread and butter issues. But I know of some brave journalist who stood their ground and prevailed. I also know some journalists who took the diffcult way out rather than sell their souls. ONLYgood editors know that good professional journalist are hard to come by and ONLY good editors will not allow their political masters to have the last say. ONLY GOOD EDITORS STAND BY THEIR PEOPLE!

The official launch of BENAR will take place immediately following the CIJ forum on Press Freedom.

Time: 2:00 pm

Date: 4^th May, 2008

Venue: Central Market Annexe

We will be inviting both the local and foreign media to attend the launch and will explain to everyone our civil action initiative to promote Truth in Reporting. We will also announce the Minggu BENAR of 1^st to 7^th June, 2008 during which week, everyone will be invited to do what they can to persuade those in control to remove the existing restrictions and allow our journalist community to report without fear or favour.

We will also ask our local journalists to Dare to be Free. Civil society can only raise concerns and offer support. The change has to come from within the journalist community. Minggu BENAR will be the opportunity for them to stand up or walk or do whatever is their preferred mode of expression, to state their case.

EDITORS, STAND BY YOUR MEN AND WOMEN....

THEY WILL BE LOYAL TO YOU,

WHILST YOU CANNOT GUARANTEE THE SAME FROM YOUR POLITICAL MASTERS.

ARREST ME NOW OR LET ME GO!

That was exactly what Raja Petra told his interrogators who for the better part of two hours was "persuading" him to make a statement. When they failed to get a statement from him, they opened the interrogation room door and Pete walked towards us at around 5.55pm to a shout of Daulat Tuanku from a supporter and clapping from a group of bloggers.

When I arrived at BlogHouse at 4.00pm, Rocky, Nuraina and Tony Yew were already waiting for me. When we arrived at CCID at Bukit Perdana Marina was just walking out, as she was not allowed to be with her husband, unlike the occasion when she was questioned by Police and Raja Petra insisted that he would not allow his wife to be interviewed by strangers without his presence as her husband.
Within minutes of our arrival, the media people trickled in and in no time the entrance of CCID was a sea of activity around Marina. Bloggers sms-ed other bloggers. ShanghaiStephen and Eric Voon arrived, followed by Member of Parliament for Wangsa Maju, Yang Berkhidmat Wee Choo Keong. Last to arrive was Gus Gan of Fisherman's Wharf who had to replace a flat on the way.

The reason for this change of date was quite obvious. The mata-mata thought that this last moment summon of RPK would mean less media attention. The 5th estate mechanism showed their tongue to the authorities.

YB Wee, accompanied by Rocky attempted to enter the premises but was denied entrance but given no reason. No fuss was made because we knew that MP for Selayang, YB William Leong was with Raja Petra.

Watch this YewTube production of the events by Tony Yew of MyBlog TV.


GENTLE REMINDER: TOMORROW AT (2:00pm)CENTRAL MARKET THE LAUNCH OF BENAR.

RPK's SUNDAYT LUNCH DATE WITH CCID.

YEP! Confirmed it with Marina just a while ago....The Police has asked Raja Petra to come to the CCID (the same place they freed Nat, also the same place that they grilled Jeff Ooi, sometime last year), just before lunch time. To be exact, they want him there at 1100 hrs, tomorrow.

It was reported that 6 coppers interrupted the family breakfast early this morning, questioned him and "borrowed' his notebook. Raja Petra and Mrina was with us at yesterday's BUM2008. As one of the many panel speakers he took the audience through the three evolutionary stages of his life. Could it be that the SB mistook evolutionary with revolutionary. Possible? NO?

A revolutionary thought came to mind. Is there a provision where each state can have their police contingent under their respective state governments. I know for a fact that in the US of A, the police from one state do not cross state lines, even to go after criminals....they have to get the OK from that state/county police chief. Must get our Members of Parliament to play around with this proposal during the next 13 days.

Anyway, here is what you must do.....especially those who post in Malaysia Today, and who clamour to have their photos taken with RPK....you show your loyalty tomorrow. Bring the family with your bungkus lunch tomorrow to keep vigil with Marina. You bet I will be there after I chair my condo's JMC meeting at 1000hrs. See you....and if RPK is released early, we can go over to Central Market to help launch BENAR, a movement to stand by journalist who also want their truth printed instead of being edited and massacred.

JUST IN: GOT SMS FROM RPK, THE COPS WANT HIM AT CCID AT 4PM TODAY INSTEAD OF TOMORROW.
NIPPING OVER TO THE BLOGHOUSE TO PICK UP
TONY YewTube.

MCA's CHIEF RUNNING DOG ON RAT-CATCHING.

For a while I thought that the Star was helping the battered MCA do some damage control and spin more on the in-fighting and the land-grab that has become very synonymous with the MCA. But today they turned on my buddy Yang Berkhidmat Wee Choo Keong.


I tell you this. I am a dog-lover, but I hate that breed called Running Dogs. These are programmed mongrels that if beaten goes around whimpering with the tails tugged between their scrotum bags.

Here is what WCW allowed his paper to print:

A GROUP of residents in Wangsa Maju are yearning to see their newly-elected MP more often to enable them to air their grouses directly to him.

”We hope to see him go to the ground more often so that he can listen to our problems directly and not just rely on getting feedback on his blog,” said Wangsa Maju Section 2 Joint Management Corporation chairman Lim Cheng Hock.

“The MP should help solve pro-blems that are affecting the constituents,” he said at the launch of a campaign to fight against the rat menace.

Lim claimed the area's MP, Wee Choo Keong, had promised during election campaigning that he would ask City Hall to repaint the flats in the area.

“We are giving him a year to fulfil his promise,” he said.

I call this shit-stirring. The loser clutching at the proverbial straw and appointing Running Dog Lim Cheng Hock to test the waters.


But since they can't catch up with Wee, they have decided to catch rats instead....dogs catching rats? Gee, the world of running dogs sure has changed!

And there is money involved again....MCA's fix-it strategy.....and you have to have the same uniform just to catch rats.Go here to see how DBKL breed rats. Here is the official word on this rat-catching extravaganza:

The campaign to catch rats was a joint effort involving City Hall, Wangsa Maju Section 2's Bestari Community and the Joint Management Corporation.

City Hall Health Department official Dr Parameswarvathy Ramanathan said the local authority caught 11,442 rats last year and 370 were from Wangsa Maju Section 2 alone.

He pointed out that a similar campaign was carried out at Kampung Baru over the last two months and some 2,500 rats were caught.

Bestari Community's adviser Datuk Yew Teong Look, who launched the campaign on Saturday, distributed a total of 500 mouse traps to the residents.

Residents who have registered to join the campaign will be awarded RM2 for every rat caught during the campaign period, from April 26 to May 24.

Half of the RM2 reward will come from Yew.

My take is that for all the time Yew Teong Look has been LOOKING after Wangsa Maju, the rat population exploded prodigiously. So it is cleaning up time now and of course the other running dog outfit aka DBKL has come in to lend a paw. Don't you think money spent on rat-traps could be used for painting flats? Or Mr. Yew could use the money to do a YewTube on "Birth-Control for Rats"

RATS! TIME TO CATCH CHELSEA PLAY LIVERPOOL...2:45AM NOW.