THE FORGOTTEN FOREIGN GARDENERS.

 

 an adaption of a Mob1900 creation

Young shoots are sent to the nurseries. In this critical stage of their growth, these young shoots get the best of attention and nurturing from GARDENERS. No, this is not a post on horticulture. I am referring to one group of gardeners – THE LA SALLE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS. They taught my late Pa, some of my uncles. They were my teachers and my brother’s too. I even became one of them for a spell. It was during my sojourn with the Christian Brothers that I was amongst the lucky ones who took turns to care for one of the pioneer French Brother (Brother Henri) during his last days. Bro. Henri was one of my Pa’s teachers in St. George’s Institution, Taiping

So what brought about this post was a posting in the Centre for Policy Initiative . on Bro Vincent Corkery 

 

What I want to highlight is:
 Brother Vincent Corkery, who comes from Ireland, has served in Malaysia since 1948 or a span of more than 60 years. Several years ago, he applied for Malaysian citizenship after having obtained the necessary pass in written and oral Malay, but his application was rejected without explanation.

 People, bear with me as I put to print about this gallant but forgotten Foreign Gardeners.

Text from e-Lasallian network 

Like many great sagas, the story of the Christian Brothers, also known as the La Salle Brothers in Malaysia began with an honourable ambition and a daring dream. Honourable because they desired to educate and enlighten the ‘downtrodden and poor’ in the East where education was a luxury, only for the rich. Daring because in 1852, a group of six La Salle Christian Brothers (three French, two Irish, one American) made an undaunted journey by sea from France to the Far East, to pledge their future in an alien country totally unknown to them. On board the ship “La Julie” heading for Singapore were also five Sisters of St. Maur, more commonly known as the CHIJ Sisters (who set up all the Convent schools that we know). Sadly, the Reverend Sister Superior succumbed to the strenuous journey and died within sight of the island.

Nevertheless, the Brothers and Sisters struggled on to achieve what they had travelled thousands of miles to do. Three of the Brothers remained in Singapore while the other three travelled to Penang the result of which was eventually to be the St. Xavier’s Institution, or SXI for short, the mother of all Lasallian schools in the country. Soon, Lasallian schools proliferated throughout the country and the Brothers earned the respect of all – teachers, students and their parents. During the pinnacle years in the 60’s. 70’s and 80’s, there were no less than 60 primary and secondary schools set up by the Brothers.

Their Malaysian dream fulfilled.

           

As a testimony to the Brothers’ contributions, the Official Year Book of the Federation of Malaya 1967, when reporting the quality of education in schools run by the Christian bodies expressed:

 “….. the Mission schools, particular those under the direction of the Roman Catholic Christian Brothers and the American Methodist Church were chiefly responsible for the rapid advancement in English education. And by 1914, some three fourths of the boys receiving education were in those schools ….. It is a striking  tribute to the selflessness of these men and women that they should have gained  the ready confidence and affection of both parents and teachers despite differences in religion and culture …...”

Available school records before world war II , in fact showed that

74% of the boys and almost all the girls were in Mission schools.

For countless Malaysians who have had the privilege of studying under the La Salle Brothers, their education has been a wholesome and rewarding experience. They received more than quality education. They are imbued with moral values that have put them in good stead in life. This is an acknowledged fact and it explains why the alumni hold the Brothers in high esteem and their Alma Maters close to their hearts even though they left school decades ago.

However, circumstances became restrictive for Mission schools with the implementation of the National Education Policy in ‘69. This, coupled with increasing materialistic pursuits, young men find it difficult to think of a life as a Brother. As a result, the number of Brothers in the local education scene dwindled over the past decades with less than a handful still actively serving in the teaching profession. They are but a few gems striving gallantly to preserve the moral values and the traditions of the La Salle Brothers in today’s education by adapting these universal and timeless values to contemporary conditions.

The Brothers’ diminishing presence ironically provides the spark that ignites the fire for the refounding of the La Salle Mission in this country; only this time round, through the ALUMNI  and in a bigger dimension given the large number of LaSallians supporting the Cause.

+++++

When Bro Vincent applied for Malaysian citizenship, it meant RENOUNCING his Irish citizenship. I do not have to remind HRH the Sultan of Selangor, the PM of Malaysia and his cousin the Minister of Home Affairs (all Old Boys of the Brothers) and hordes of other luminaries that whilst thousands from across some seas have been given easy citizenship, Brother Vincent’s is still in limbo. 

Dang, he has spent his live here, 

nurtured thousands here and 

he just wants to be a Malaysian and 

maybe die as a Malaysian HERE!

IS THAT SO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.

MUST HE BEG? 

+++++

OTHER POSTINGS

HERE

HERE

ZUL NORDIN - PSEUDOLOGIA FANTASTICA OR MYTHOMANIA?

THIS from Wikipedia:


Pseudologia fantastica, mythomania, or pathological lying, is one of several terms applied by psychiatrists to the behavior of habitual or compulsive lying. It was first described in the medical literature in 1891 by Anton Delbrueck. Although it is a controversial topic, one definition of pathological lying is the following: "Pathological lying is falsification entirely disproportionate to any discernible end in view, may be extensive and very complicated, and may manifest over a period of years or even a lifetime."

Characteristics

The defining characteristics of pseudologia fantastica are that, first, the stories are not entirely improbable and often have some element of truth. They aren't a manifestation of delusion or some wider form of psychosis: upon confrontation, they can't acknowledge them to be untrue, even if unwillingly. Second, the fabricative tendency is long lasting; it is not provoked by the immediate situation or social pressure as much as it originates with the person's innate urge to act in accordance. Third, a definitely internal, not an external, motive for the behavior can be clinically discerned e.g. long lasting extortion or habitual spousal battery might cause a person to lie repeatedly, without the lying being a pathological symptom.^[2] Fourth, the stories told tend towards presenting the person in question in a good light. For example, the person might be presented as being fantastically brave, knowing or being related to many famous people.

Pseudologia fantastica may also present as false memory syndrome, where the sufferer genuinely believes that fictitious events have taken place, regardless that these events are fantasies. The sufferer may believe that he has committed superhuman acts of altruism and love or has committed equally grandiose acts of diabolical evil, for which the sufferer must atone, or has already atoned for in his fantasies.

Sometime ago, over TV3, Zul was sporting an RMC tie. It is legendary how RMC guys guard the prestige of their Alma Mater. The Secretary of PUTRA, Colonel Azuddin was tasked to question Zulkifli Nordin because many did not remember him being in RMC.


The question went like this:


"Were you in RMC?"


"YES!"


"What is your regimental number?"


"No, no, I was sent to RMC to improve my English."

This was during the time when Munir Majid was Chairman of MAS and his cabin crew was sent to RMC to polish up their communicative English. How Zul slipped into RMC is not known. However, these who availed themselves of the three months session were not allowed to mingle with the RMC students but were allowed to use the facilities available at the College. How he got the RMC tie is up to you to use your imagination based on the character of our said subject.

Moreover he was asked by the Secretary of Putra to remove from his CV that he was an alumni of RMC. That too he has not done. Another alumni, incensed at this usurpation emailed Zul to register his contempt but never received an acknowledgment.


That's our Zul boy for you.

Pete did a piece on him HERE.
 

Last week he was pretty silent, probably because the one a week defection did not materialise. However I just love the way he toyed with truth, sidestep candor and leave fiscal accuracy to drift in the doldrums of wistful speculation. In simple English, Zul is a capital fraud. Probably this really is what he is all about:

The Liars     

By Carl Sandburg

A liar goes in fine clothes.
A liar goes in rags.
A liar is a liar, clothes or no clothes.
A liar is a liar and lives on the lies he tells and dies in a life of lies.
And the stonecutters earn a living—with lies—on the tombs of liars.

A liar looks ’em in the eye
And lies to a woman,
Lies to a man, a pal, a child, a fool.
And he is an old liar; we know him many years back.

A liar lies to nations.
A liar lies to the people.
A liar takes the blood of the people
And drinks this blood with a laugh and a lie,
A laugh in his neck,
A lie in his mouth.
And this liar is an old one; we know him many years.
He is straight as a dog’s hind leg.
He is straight as a corkscrew.
He is white as a black cat’s foot at midnight.

The tongue of a man is tied on this,
On the liar who lies to nations,
The liar who lies to the people.
The tongue of a man is tied on this
And ends: To hell with ’em all.
To hell with ’em all.

It’s a song hard as a riveter’s hammer,
Hard as the sleep of a crummy hobo,
Hard as the sleep of a lousy doughboy,
Twisted as a shell-shock idiot’s gibber.

The liars met where the doors were locked.
They said to each other: Now for war.
The liars fixed it and told ’em: Go.

Across their tables they fixed it up,
Behind their doors away from the mob.
And the guns did a job that nicked off millions.
The guns blew seven million off the map,
The guns sent seven million west.
Seven million shoving up the daisies.
Across their tables they fixed it up,
The liars who lie to nations.

And now
Out of the butcher’s job
And the boneyard junk the maggots have cleaned,
Where the jaws of skulls tell the jokes of war ghosts,
Out of this they are calling now: Let’s go back where we were.
Let us run the world again, us, us.

Where the doors are locked the liars say: Wait and we’ll cash in again.

So I hear The People talk.
I hear them tell each other:Let the strong men be ready.
Let the strong men watch.
Let your wrists be cool and your head clear.
Let the liars get their finish,
The liars and their waiting game, waiting a day again
To open the doors and tell us: War! get out to your war again.

So I hear The People tell each other:
Look at to-day and to-morrow.
Fix this clock that nicks off millions
When The Liars say it’s time.
Take things in your own hands.
To hell with ’em all,
The liars who lie to nations,
The liars who lie to The People.

+++++


A BEN LOH CONTRIBUTION

 

BE AWARE, BESIDES OTHER INTRIGUES, THE ELECTION COMMISSION CAN EVEN CHANGE YOUR ETHNICITY AND SEX!

 Major (Rtd) D Swami wrote in his blog 7th Rangers

The Election Commission still does magic !!! Not the David Copperfield ones

                                                                                                         

April 03, 2010

The Election Commission reported that 15.47 million Malaysians are above 21 years of age and are eligible to vote in federal and state elections. I was visiting Zorro's blog. He was writing about the registration of new voters.

He wrote: "Voting, unlike protest rallies which are always being tear-gassed and water cannoned, would be a better way to influence changes in this country. If you do not like the government of the day, vote them out".

NOT CERTAIN WHETHER YOU ARE A REGISTERED VOTER OR IF YOU ARE STILL ON THE ELECTORAL ROLE. (There are sufficient proofs that your name might be in some out of state constituencies)

Go to the Election Commission of Malaysia Electoral Roll Checking website and punch in your IC No: for a quick check ...

CLICK HERE >>> Election Commission of Malaysia Electoral Roll Checking website

I did that using my new Identity Card number, no problem there. The problem was when I used my old Army Service Number, which was 3002553. This is what appeared. 

click on image

My friend Rocky wrote about something similar to this before GE12 HERE

I remember, during the Kuala Terengganu by-elections Raja Petra was invited for lunch by a member of the Royal family, he having been a resident of KT for some twenty years. The same invitation was extended to the Special Bunch. Over coffee, after lunch we were showed the names of 3 Chinese registered under his address. The EC even dared putting three Chinese names into this royal household.

This will happen as it has happened! If you are eligible to vote and have not registered your name would be used by the EC to vote for the BN. If you are eligible but are not registered you would be registered by EC and your vote assigned to you know who.

Even if you are registered they could move your name to another critical constituency. When you finally go to the voting booth, you are told your name is not on. As such you have no time to go to where they tell you you have to vote at. Even if it was possible and you did go to that polling station, you could be told that you had already voted.

When Rocky in 2008 decided to vote and went to the Post Office  to check he was informed that he was already registered in Ipoh. (http://rockybru.com.my/2007/09/excuse-me-wtf-registered-me-as-voter.html

 

Sadly (NO?) we have become a fine example of democracy at work for pisang republics around the world to emulate.  The voting process in Iraq was probably more honest using blue ink on voter’s thumbs to prevent voter fraud.  We never thought it would come to this, but then again,  1 Malaysia is all about NO CHANGE..aka Perkasa!

FLEA MARKET MENTALITY VERSUS CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY.

EVEN after Haris told me where the EPIC volunteers were registering new voters it took me sometime before I saw a youngster with a VOICE YOUR CHOICE poster pinned to the back of his shirt. He directed me to where Jasmine and her group were stationed - in an insignificant poor- traffic corner on the 2nd level. I am referring to the Amcrop Mall. When I paid them a visit after brunch they had already registered 40 new voters. They would have done better if the MANAGEMENT of the Mall had not prevented those kids from pinning those posters to the back of their shirts. The were not harassing anyone. They were kids who sacrificed their Saturday and tomorrow too to do a civic service. They are not paid for every new voter who registers. Whereas, at the entrance an IT booth was monotonously soliciting their products. Why this double standard treatment? Is this an BN Mall or is it just that the management is stymied by a flea-market mentality?

Jasmine said that they are determined to register 2million unregistered voters before the next GE, but of course they will not use this unfriendly mall.

Things were much more conducive over at the Subang Parade. EPIC was strategically positioned and they had ARPHAN AHMAD (who blogs as the Storyteller) a Mafrel volunteer assisting them. Registration was at 35 but as I left 5 young Malay ladies sat down to be counted.

So what's the difference between these two Malls?

CLASS....and admittedly Subang Parade understood what Coroporate Community Responsibility is all about. 

TODAY I THROW 3 CHALLENGES....

NAJIB

Forget about what FIRST and what SECOND!

191 UMNO delegates “selected”, (not elected, because there were no challengers) you as President of UMNO. The Rakyat has yet to elect you as their PM.

My question:  

ARE YOU PRIME MINISTER FOR MALAYSIANS OR FOR 

UMNO MALAYS?

 Zambri

I was at the public forum at the Civic Centre on Thursday night where ILHAM declared that if there was a snap election in Perak, BN will win the elections . YB Nizar, the Menteri Besar of Perak took exception to the result of this survey by ILHAM and challenged the court- appointed MB Zambri to call for a snap election.

If ILHAM were to conduct a survey that night, the result would have been reversed accept for the 6 SBs who were as usual making themselves conspicuously inconspicuous.

I TOO CHALLENGE ZAMBRY TO TAKE UP THIS DARE.

HOT AIR RAKYAT

 

There are millions of you out there, too complacent to VOICE YOUR CHOICE. These are the boo-boys, THE KNOW-ALLS, the two-bit self-proclaimed political pundits, the armchair critics who perpetually whimper and whine  in kopi tiams and pubs who have NO RIGHT to  criticize or condemn BN and Pakatan, because they are NOT REGISTERED VOTERS.

Do you know that 4.4 million recently eligible aged 21 Malaysian have not yet registered as voters? Of these, 787,000 are in Selangor.

Are you amongst the 4.4 million eligible but as yet unregistered to vote? Do you know of someone who can but hasn't yet registered? Register now and get every unregistered voter you know to do the same. It is your right and your responsibility.

Drag your fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters and friends who still are not bothered to voice their choice, to your nearest Post Office. Don’t be afraid to even kick butts. We don’t care who they vote for. We just care that they go register.

REMINDER

today and tomorrow

FROM 10AM TO 10PM

EPIC

would be conducting voter registration at

SUBANG PARADE

AMCORP MALL

E-CURVE MALL

TWAS A REAL GOOD "GOOD FRIDAY" YESTERDAY.

SURE it was. Hawkeye and I took Mr & Mrs Lim to register as voters at the Old Klang Road Post Office. All done in just 10 minutes.

Voting, unlike protest rallies which are always being tear-gassed and water cannoned, would be a better way to influence changes in this country. If you do not like the government of the day, vote them out.

The Election Commission reported that 15.47 million Malaysians are above 21 years of age are eligible to vote in federal and state elections.

Do you know that 4.4 million Malaysians over the age of 21 have not yet registered as voters? Of these, 787,000 are in Selangor.

Are you amongst the 4.4 million eligible but as yet unregistered to vote? Do you know of someone who can but hasn't yet registered? Register now and get every unregistered voter you know to do the same. It is your right and your responsibility.

However, only 11.08 million (72%) have taken the trouble to register as voters.
This means that 4.39  million (28%) eligible electors have opted to forfeit their right to vote in the event a general election is held.

WHAT IS MEANT BY THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS ?
The Registration of Electors, as provided for under the law, enables qualified Malaysian citizens to register as electors. The registration is carried out throughout the year. In addition it allows the Registered Electors who have changed their address to register at the new place of residence. Electors are also encouraged to check their names in the verified Electoral Rolls.

WHY DO YOU NEED TO REGISTER ?
To secure your right to vote in an election and exercise your right as a citizen.

WHO IS A QUALIFIED VOTER?
- A Malaysian citizen
- Has attained 21 years of age
- Is residing in any Election Constituency in Malaysia; and
- Has not been disqualified.

HOW TO REGISTER ?
- Go personally to the Registration Centre or Post Office.
- Take along your MyKad
- Ensure Form A is correctly filled by the staff before signing the form; and
- Keep one copy of the form as proof of your registration.

WHERE CAN YOU REGISTER ?
Election Commission of Malaysia Headquarters OR State Election Offices
OR
All Post Offices with computer facilities in the country;

NOT CERTAIN WHETHER YOU ARE A REGISTERED VOTER OR IF YOU ARE STILL ON THE ELECTORAL ROLE. (There are sufficient proof that your name is in some out of state constituencies)

Go to the Election Commission of Malaysia Electoral Roll Checking website
and punch in your IC No: for a quick check ...

CLICK HERE >>> http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/daftarj/daftarbi.aspx

Register today and vote

WITH YOUR CONSCIENCE
in the 13th General Election
for a better Malaysia ... a better tomorrow
for our children and our future generations  
Please help to pass this critical message on ... far and wide

1. Forward this post to your family and friends
2. Talk to them at every opportunity and urge them to register and   to vote.
3. Urge them to do likewise ... pass on this message.

As ordinary citizen perhaps this is the least you and I can do for our beloved country ... for a better Malaysia, a better tomorrow. Let's do it!

  +++++

REMINDER
3/4 april

FROM 10AM TO 10PM

EPIC

would be conducting voter rigistration at

SUBANG PARADE

AMCORP MALL

E-CURVE MALL

ANOTHER DICKHEAD BUT THIS ONE TALKING COCK.

THATS him, a new VP in MCA and Deputy Minister Finance, CHOR CHEE HEUNG. He recently boasted:

“I believe that low-income Malaysians today would not have been able to have their own cars had it not been for Proton”

Thats a load of BS aka bullshit! Here is why!

ARE DICKHEADS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED?

Shirlene Ong, a Hong Kong resident over the past six years  said over AlJezzera  TV:

"I will not be returning to Malaysia any time soon. What may make me return is perhaps when all Malaysians are treated equally," she said.

And one dickhead went amok! He ejaculated "Don't talk shit" three times for the world to see and hear.

If he had used his head and not his dickhead he would realise that Miss Ong might be referring to this:

how now

fat cow?