Tuesday, July 31, 2007

POLICE REPORT MADE AGAINST ABDULLAH BADAWI !!

HANTU LAUT

Would you believe it, the Prime Minister allowed such article to be posted on his official website ? I don't think our PM deserved this kind of insult.

Come on Raja Petra, I am not convinced and Malaysians are not the idiots as you wish to believe they are. I am surprised it was someone from DAP that discover the seditious article. Did somebody tip him off? Was the article planted ?

How come with your Deep Throats planted in every branches of government and you as Sherlock Holmes with very impressive sleuthing skill didn't discover the disparaging article much earlier. It was there since 14th November 2005.

I would like to give our Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt. Being a busy man I don't think he has time to personally read his website and I doubted that the article was there since November 2005.Anyone with the correct password could have posted the article internally or from outside.A good hacker shouldn't have a problem getting in too.It is obvious this is a case of sabotage.

The police should get to the bottom of this and with today's technology it wouldn't be too difficult to trace the source.

Friday, July 27, 2007

AGENT PROVOCATEUR

HANTU LAUT

Our famous blogger, Raja Petra has turned the tables on UMNO and accused them as the people behind seditious postings on his website and has given specific names to the police. He has also admitted that he has moles inside UMNO who would squeal over paltry sum of money.

Agent provocateur has long been the tool used by many organisations such as the police, secret service, FBI, political parties, etc to subvert another group or individual to commit crimes by planting agents as members of the group so evidence can be collected for the group or individual to be convicted of a crime.

Such allegation should not be totally ignored by the police. The case should be investigated thoroughly.

Incendiary comments could easily be removed from websites. Not having enough time is not a good excuse. Alternatively, to protect your website from onslaught of incendiary and smutty comments, filter all comments and post only after approval of the webmaster. Lastly, if you really want to be nasty you can always ban the undesirables using the I.P address, quite cumbersome, as I.P can keep changing.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

MASS MURDERERS

Handcuffs not Handshakes Ad

The ongoing Darfur Genocide is no accident, no local tribal conflict. The genocide is the brutal plan of three men in the Sudanese national Government -- President Bashir, Vice-President Taha, Security Chief Gosh. Now they are spreading their system of terror to other African countries, including Chad and the Central African Republic . Yet our governments continue to cut deals with them - deals they repeatedly break. It is time for the US and European governments to stop appeasing genocide. We call on all civilised governments to fully support the International Criminal Court to indict the perpetrators of genocide, and to help ensure their arrest. It is time for justice, because only justice can bring peace.

For Bashir, Taha and Gosh, it is time for handcuffs, not handshakes.

Estimated Death Toll In Darfur



BIKING IN BORNEO - A MISADVENTURE

by Terry R.Mills

Thursday evening, Bryan and I hadn’t been for a ride together for ages. He needed the break, I wanted the fun and we needed to explore new routes for our up-coming bikers.

We’d been looking at the map and contemplating the missing section between Ranau and Kota Marudu. Rumor had it that there was an unmapped route between the Kinabalu Park Ranger Station at ??? and the Ranger Station near Kota Marudu, a good enough excuse for an adventure.

Friday morning we set off over the Crocker Range to Ranau and called in at the Police Station to ask if indeed there was a route to Kota Marudu? Two white guys on motorbikes certainly caused a stir but no knowledge of our missing trail.

Next stop was the JKR (Department of Roads). Their map matched ours, still no missing section. We were given a list of villages to pass through on the way to the end of the JKR maintained trails and told to ask the locals there for directions.

We left their office, it was only 11 o’clock, too early for lunch so we fuelled up, popped 4 bottles of water into the back packs and set off. The first 35 kilometers of gravel road were fine, villagers were great giving directions, asking about the bikes and scratching their heads as two mad white men rode off into the distance.

Things were going well; we had successfully traversed three river crossings and were close to the Ranger Station at the end of the marked trail. The last river was deep. Bryan went first and made it across successfully. I went next, hit a submerged rock and got tossed into an even deeper part of the river. I went under and came up to see the bike, still running, gently sinking out of sight. We pulled the bike out, removed the saddle to see if the air intake was still dry and it was, so (mistake number one) I tried to start it. “Grind, grind, bump”, it hydraulicked. We opened the air box and a gallon of water poured out. Not good. Next we removed the plug and spun the engine over. A big jet of water told us the worst. Half an hour drying the air filter and spark plug under the sun and we tried again. Vroom! She fired and ran like a dream. Yee Haw!

Next stop was the Ranger Station. We signed the very thin visitor’s book and asked for directions.

“Back to the river, turn left.”

“About how far?”

“15 kilometers.”

Great, we thought, this our lucky day, only 15 kilometers to go!

What they actually meant was 15 kilometers back to the last junction, not to Kota Marudu.

We went back to the river and turned left up a logging trail, hard packed clay and spectacular scenery through the foothills of Mount Kinabalu and prime virgin rain forest.

We soon came across a chained but unlocked gate. We went through; (mistake number two.) soon after there was a padlocked barrier across the trail. (By now the alarm bells should have been ringing.) The bikes were low enough to drive under the bar so under we went, 15 kilometers later there was still no sign of habitation or our destination so we pushed on. (Mistake number three.)

Thirty kilometers in there were signs of logging and an abandoned logging truck so we drove even further into the jungle. The trail was still wide and now there were even tire tracks to give us hope. We followed the tracks for a further 5 kilometers and descended into a big logging camp. As we rolled in there were a lot of nervous glances and shuffling of feet. We were obviously not welcome. Our requests for directions were met with evasive answers and suggestions to go back to where we had come from. As it turned out, probably very good advise.

We had lost a lot of time drying out the bike, we were a long way into the jungle and we were obviously not going to get any help in the logging camp so we decided to turn back. We’d covered about 10 clicks when we heard the thunder and a few moments later came the deluge so typical of the micro climates generated by the 14,000 foot mountain towering alongside us. Within seconds our lovely highway of packed clay was turned into a slimy, sticky ice rink. The muck stuck to the tires, jammed under the front mud guards until the wheels stopped rotating and in rapid succession we crashed to the ground. Even regaining our feet was a struggle. We picked up the bikes, sat on the bank and waited for the rain to stop.

It was 4.30, two hours of daylight to go, time to take stock of our situation. We drank our last half bottle of water and refilled our empties with the muddy water running off the nearby foliage. The first aid box was put to use as a rain water collector so at least the dehydration problem was sorted. But being in the jungle with no water was definitely mistake number four. We cast our minds back to our last meal, it was only a light breakfast and we didn’t even have a snack in the back-packs, no flash light or even a cheap cigarette lighter to start a fire.

You have probably gathered by now that I’m not very proud of this story.

We looked at our cell phones. Mine was dead from its bath in the river and Bryan’s registered no signal. The satellite phone was comfortably sitting in its charger at home.

We gave it half an hour and tried to ride the bikes again. A few hundred yards of slipping, sliding and falling convinced us to stay put and hope the road would dry out before dark.

Being the eternal optimist I was convinced help would come and then I heard it in the distance, a vehicle was coming our way. The battered 4X4 pick-up truck came slithering and skidding round the corner and the two wide eyed occupants pulled up beside us. They were headed to the logging camp. No amount of pleading or bribery would convince them to take us back to the Ranger Station or on to their Logging Camp. They drove off, we were on our own.

We now had only two choices left, try to walk out, in the dark on a deadly slippery surface or hunker down for the night. We weren’t sure how far we had to go, probably 15 kilometers to the river and a further three through overhanging forest to the sanctuary of the Ranger. It was over cast, there was no moon and it was going to be a very dark night so hunker down it was.

We found a flat patch of ground with a big felled log across it that was to our head quarters for the night. Darkness comes very quickly at these latitudes and within a few minutes of removing the saddles from the bikes and propping them against our tree it was pitch black.

Up until now I had seen no danger in our situation but the next event really shocked me. A few more claps of thunder heralded another torrential down pour but unlike the balmy warm rain we are used to at sea level this was icy cold. Then it dawned on us, we had left Ranau at 6,000 feet, traversed four rivers at increasing altitudes and continued to climb into the forest. We were at an altitude of at least 7,000 feet. It was so cold that neither mosquitoes nor leeches could survive. We were in for a very long and very cold night. Our situation was worsened by Bryan being soaked from the waist down from his exertions extracting the bike from the river and I was still soaked from head to toe. Exposure became a real threat.

Both of us managed to doze off for a half hour or so but each time woke shivering violently from head to toe from the pervasive cold. We’d then spend ten minutes marching up and down flapping our arms to try to get life back into or bodies. To our surprise neither of us was hungry or thirsty, just as well I suppose. It became so dark we literally couldn’t see our proverbial hands in front of our faces, only the flashing red LED’s on the bikes gave us an idea of which direction to walk in.

We’d each fall into a fitful sleep only to wake in shuddering agony as the cold worked its way through us. Then Bry came up with the idea of running a bike engine to keep us warm. Wow, an exhaust box had never felt so good. And when the engine got hot enough for the radiator cooling fans to cut in we both ducted the hot air up our jackets. Heaven!

It stays dark here for eleven hours. Do you know how long eleven hours is? It’s YEARS! I don’t suppose it got any warmer as dawn arrived but the psychological difference was amazing. We could see the road again. We now had twelve hours to walk or ride out. For sure we couldn’t survive another night without food in these conditions.

We waited till 7o’clock to give it a go, one section at a time, down hill with the engine off, in gear but with the clutch in so that we could use the engine as a back brake whilst paddling along with both feet on the ground to catch the bikes each time they slipped away from beneath us. It was slow and painstaking progress. Both mirrors were eventually snapped off of Bryan’s bike in falls and the radiators on both machines sheared their mounting points. First my back pack was cannibalized and used to re-attach a radiator then my rain suit trousers were shredded and called into service to fix the second one into place. My rear brake lever got bent so far out of shape that the push rod displaced from its piston. It’s amazing what you can do with a Leatherman!

As the surface gradually dried out it reached “super glue” consistency and clogged up the front wheels every few hundred yards. The shaft from a broken mirror proved a perfect tool to repeatedly prize the goo from under the mudguards.

By 9.30 we were exhausted from continually picking up our bikes. The sun was getting hotter and the road visibly drying out so we decided to rest for an hour then try again. Our big fear was another rain storm and we would be literally stuck once more but the gods smiled on us. The heat of the sun warmed our spirits and we slowly inched our way out of the quagmire. We sidled under the padlocked barrier and prayed that our two truck drivers from the night before had not re-locked the chained gates. Luck was on our side and we carefully descended the last rocky incline to the river crossing where our troubles had begun. This time we picked out a shallower crossing further down stream and with my heart in my mouth I forded the torrent without incident. Bry gave me a rousing round of applause as I reached the far bank, probably elated that he didn’t have to retrieve the bike yet again.

Now we were on gravel and just another hour from civilization and phone contact with loved ones at home. All together it took us five and a half back breaking hours to get out.

Have you ever seen a mother in a supermarket when she finally retrieves her lost child? You would think that the first thing she would do would be to pick up the kid and give him a big cuddle but, no they don’t They invariably give their off-spring a might clout around the ear. Don’t ask me why they do it but they always do.

And that is just the reception I got when I finally phoned my wife. Not “Oh I’m so glad you’re safe darling.” Just “Where the hell have you been?” and a list of expletives deleted!

What caused our problems?

Simply; complacency. We have been doing these adventures for three years without incident. Our emergency kit gets smaller and smaller as we decide we can do without various items. We thought we were invincible, we even dispensed with the support truck that we always take on off-road jaunts but never previously required in an emergency. No food, no water, no flash light, no matches, no flare, not telling our family where we were going, no satellite phone, the list of errors goes on and on.

Fortunately we didn’t break our unwritten rule of never taking clients on routes that we have not reconnoitered ourselves. Can you imagine trying to explain to gang of knowledgeable, seasoned bikers why they are spending a night in a muddy jungle freezing to death? At least we were spared that embarrassment

What lessons have learned? Expect the best prepare for the worst.

We have really taken stock of what we do and how we do it. We have a responsibility to our clients, to our families and to ourselves to conduct a professional and well thought-out adventure business. We are proud of our riding skills, our machinery and the beautiful country in which we conduct our tours. It’s time for us to up our game.

Terry Mills can be contacted at terrymills@hotmail.com or http://www.borneobikingadventures.com

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

SHOULD THEY ARREST HIM ?

HANTU LAUT

SEE YOU IN HELL MUHAMAD SON OF MUHAMAD
-------------------------------------------------------
Interesting, how some people behave, as if, only they have rights to slander and destroy other people lives and reputation. When the same is done to them they started throwing tantrums like a spoiled child.It reminds me of the story of colicky and cranky Ivan the Terrible, who was known to throw cats and dogs out of the Kremlin windows.

Give yourself a pinch, and you will know how a pinch must hurt others.

Personal attack and hitting below the belt is the trademark of this peculiar sapience, an offspring of intercontinental fusion of condescending genes, one from a Welsh village somewhere in the occidental hemisphere and the other from a tropical Malay kampong somewhere in the Orient. A fatal combination of the X and Y chromosomes. It reminds me of the 1974 movie 'Death Wish' starring Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, an architect, becomes a one-man vigilante squad after his wife is murdered by street punks, he goes out at night and picks out would be muggers at random and kills them. He becomes the judge, jury and executioner.

This peculiar sapience, a writer and owner of a very popular blog, seems to have a death wish of some kind, a wish to be arrested so he can be a hero, a conscientious defender of freedom of speech. The people will love him, praise him to the skies and they would say how brave he was, risking his freedom, to go against the evil regime of Abdullah Badawi. He would be showered with accolades and sympathies and maybe demonstrations asking for his release. He would be talk of the town. A long awaited hero. A saviour of free Malaysia.

I wouldn't deny that some of what he puts on his website are not far from the truth but some just - sucks ! Even his memory needs some fine tuning. I can prove that it is true by pointing out slight mistake he made in the paragraph below taken from his composition.

"The then Raja Muda of Terengganu who is now the Agong and I would drive around London in his Ferrari and together with my sisters and wife would visit the famous London night-spots such as Longfellows where all the action is. When he was back in Kuala Lumpur I would take him to the then famous Tin Mine where we would just sit and talk as he was not a disco-dancer but preferred to just enjoy the music and talk".

I am also like him, I like to frequent the nigh-spots in London every time I am there. The night-spot where all the action is, where the celebrities hanged out and you wouldn't have a chance to get in if the goddamned bouncer thinks you are pariah or a nobody, is actually called Stringfellows, situated at Upper Saint Martin Lane. It's a place for hobnobbing with the snobs. Unless, you know the bouncer well, never use a cab, it will guarantee you no entry to the place.

I have no doubt his relationship with the Raja Muda of Trengganu, now the Agong, is genuine and the Ferrari is real. It's just a simple case of lapse of memory.

We seem to walk the same street before but God must have ordained we should not meet.I also frequent the Tin Mine because I always stay at the Hilton. It was the 'place', the only place you want to be seen in Kuala Lumpur those days, where the girls are pretty young, fashionable and sometimes available. Just like Stringfellows, it's a place for the 'good-look' people. Sadly, it becomes a pick up joint for prostitutes and transvestites during later part of its dying day and is very popular with the Quailoh.

Below is his declaration of patriotism to king and country.

"I will offer to make an audience (mengadap) with the Agong who was my buddy since the days he was merely the Raja Muda of Terengganu and if His Royal Highness is of the opinion that I have insulted him then I will subject myself to any form of punishment befitting a subject who has insulted his Agong. Such a punishment befitting the crime of insulting the Agong can include the death sentence and I will walk to the gallows to have my head separated from my body with the dignity of a true subject of the Agong. An Anak Raja Bugis is loyal to his Agong and a true Anak Raja Bugis looks death in the face with the dignity expected of an Anak Raja Bugis. I am not a descendant of Upu Tenribong Daeng Rilaka in vain and I shall not smear the name of my ancestors by avoiding the punishment of insulting his Agong. The Agong is one of the Raja-Raja Melayu and I am more than just an Anak Raja Melayu; I am an Anak Raja Bugis".

The question now is should Raja Petra be arrested for exposing the misdeeds of some of our leaders? Did he breaks any law ?

Government should respect the law of this country. We have sufficient law to deal with all kind of offences.It is unfair and unconstitutional to arrest him without any specific charge. Exposing misdeeds in government is not a threat to national security of a country. As a citizen he has every right to expose corruptions in government.

If any leaders felt they have been unfairly slandered than the right thing to do is to use the 'Lee Kuan Yew" method, take legal action and drag him to court for defamation.

Would they dare ? Would it open a bigger can of worms? Is that why they didn't dare take this course of action ?

Last but not the least, the guy who lodged the police report, didn't have good credentials.


THE SHOCKING TRUTH: SHOULD THEY FACE THE TRIBUNAL ?

Lazy judges. Promoted !!! Goodness gracious me! What's going on in this country.
'JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED' William Gladstone - (1809-1898)

JUDGES FAIL WRITTEN TEST: Just write it, judges.

KUALA LUMPUR: Justice is sometimes not done in Malaysian courts even after judgment has been passed.
There are numerous horror stories of how the accused languished in prison just because judges did not provide written judgments.

In one case, a man withdrew an appeal against 12 years’ imprisonment and 10 strokes of the rotan on a dadah trafficking charge as his jail term had come to an end while waiting for the appeal to be heard.

The delay in hearing the appeal had been due to the judge not submitting a written judgment.

The worst cut of all was that the accused took all the strokes of the rotan at once before leaving jail — knowing that his sentence may have been reduced or overturned on appeal.
In another case in 1984, an accused charged with trafficking dadah was found guilty in 1988.

When his case went on appeal to the Supreme Court in December 1993 — a good five years later — the bench substituted the death sentence with 20 years’ imprisonment.

The judges had felt that the long delay in handing down the written judgment had prejudiced the accused.

If one thought that these were the worst case scenarios, there’s more.

A Federal Court judge has at least 30 outstanding judgments accumulated from his High Court days that include dadah trafficking and murder cases.

How he is going to come up with the written judgments is anyone’s guess, especially as he will also have to provide judgments on cases before the Federal Court.

This glaring weakness in the judicial system has irked the legal fraternity to the extent that calls are being made to only appoint judicial officers who can deliver written grounds on time.

One lawyer even suggested that judges who had been issued warnings not to delay written judgments should be hauled up before a tribunal to answer for their recalcitrance.

The Bar Council says the only solution to this vexing problem is the setting up of an independent judicial commission to appoint and promote judges.

Its vice-president, Ragunath Kesavan, said the problem could have been arrested early if candidates had been properly vetted before being appointed judicial commissioners.

"This is why we have been canvassing hard for the need to set up an independent judicial commission to appoint and promote judges," he said.

Ragunath said written judgments were critical in the dispensing of justice.

The council will be sending out a circular soon to get feedback from members on cases where judgments had not been provided.

This will be forwarded to the chief justice for action to be taken so that judges will put their judgments in writing.

"We hope that he will also reveal the number of outstanding judgments," he added.

Lawyer Karpal Singh said existing procedures on delivering decisions and judgments were indefinite with many judges reserving decisions after a trial.

"At the next date, they are still unable to deliver (decisions)," he said, adding that he had at least five cases that could not be appealed as judgments were not ready.

He said some gave decisions without stating reasons.

Karpal said judges who accumulated judgments simply gave up after some time as they could not recollect the facts of the case.

"One has to look into the demeanour of the witnesses to better appreciate the facts of the case.

"This would have been fresh in their mind if judgments were written soon after the trial."

Lawyer Gurbachan Singh said prisoners facing capital punishment would be under even greater pressure if their appeals could not be heard because of delayed written judgments.

He said family members were also left emotionally drained due to the uncertainty.

Relatives of the accused were sometimes not convinced when told that the appeal process had stalled because the trial judge had not provided grounds for his judgment.

Gurbachan has two cases where judges passed the death penalty without written judgments.

"And yet, the two judges who heard the cases, have been promoted to the Court of Appeal," he said.

Kuala Lumpur Bar Criminal Practice Committee chairman N. Sivananthan said some judges were causing grave injustice to convicts and to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

"One must remember justice is not only for the convicted person but also for the state," he said.

He said failure to write or delay judgments for appeal purposes was tantamount to a denial of justice.

"Whether a judge is brilliant is a secondary point. The primary consideration is that he must provide a judgment for the aggrieved party to enable them to appeal or else the administration of justice is jammed."

He said the accused has the right to finality in his or her case and a chance to exhaust all channels of appeal.

"A person charged with a criminal offence wants his name cleared soon while a party in a civil proceeding wants to enjoy the fruits of the litigation."

He said every judge had an important role in taking legal disputes to their natural conclusion.

Reported in NST

Friday, July 20, 2007

NINJA IN THE COURTHOUSE OR WAS IT DARTH VADER ?

HANTU LAUT

Why did the two policemen cover their faces ? Are they hiding their faces from the public for a reason ? Why hide your face if you are going to prison for the rest of your life or probably would be sent to the gallows.Why can't they stand up like a man, like Razak Beginda, and walk like a man ? Has it something to do will the level of education ? I really have no answer to this, maybe, someone out there, somewhere, could tell me.

I believe the photo was taken outside the courtroom.Has anybody any idea whether the two cops were also allowed to do the same inside the courtroom ? I am sure some of the famous bloggers in Kuala Lumpur would have attended the court trials and would probably know the situation better.

Below is a photo of Darth Vader, the devilish monster from the dark side, Dark Lord of the Sith.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

HELICOPTER CRASH SIX KILLED

HANTU LAUT

Skorsky S61 Sea King
Built: 1959
Maiden Flight:September 1961

Heartfelt condolences to the families of the six RMAF personnels killed in the helicopter crash at Genting Highlands.May their souls rest in peace.

It is most imperative that the government seriously consider replacing the ageing fleet of Nuris with newer models. These helicopters were built in the fifties and would have exhausted their serviceable lives. There had been 17 crashes between 1969 and now and the safety of the others still in service would be highly doubtful. It is contemptuous of the government not to take remedial action to protect the lives of the servicemen. By allowing them to use those antiquated machines, it's like sending them on a suicidal mission.

It is absurd that our government could think of building a sport complex in London but wouldn't replace the ageing Nuris. Even worse, was the purchase of the submarines. Do we really need them ?

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

MALAYSIAN FOOTBALL - SAME OLD STORY

HANTU LAUT

Whether the Sultan resign or not is not going to make a huge difference. I have never been a great fan of Malaysian football.Like most sport bodies in this country, they are crowded with politicians and political appointees, people who had no business to be there in the first place and have very little interest in the sport other than adding some prestige to their names.

They were quick in putting blame on the players without apportioning some of the blame to themselves. There is something very rotten indeed in FAM for the team to have degraded to such low level. You cannot teach an old dog new tricks. It's high time FAM is overhauled and the infusion of new and dedicated young blood to sit on the committee.

Players should be selected on merits and their capability, not on cronyism or nepotism, which, unfortunately, plagued many sport bodies in this country.

Most Malaysian footballers are indiscipline and lack conviction. It is quite common for them to be seen at entertainment joints on the eve of a crucial game. Such indiscretion on behalf of the players are the result of poor moral training. Bad coaching plus indiscipline, what would you get? Poor performance with disastrous results.The outcome of the recent games with China and Uzbekistan was reflection of the rot in FAM. The President and officials should take bigger share of the blame.

I see no point in indulging too much into the problem as I can't see any imminent improvement.

Frankly, I think the Sultan should resign too.

COMFORTABLY NUMB

"Comfortably Numb"

Hello,
Is there anybody in there
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone at home
Come on now
I hear you're feeling down
I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again
Relax
I'll need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts

There is no pain, you are receding
A distant ship smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain, you would not understand
This is not how I am
I have become comfortably numb

O.K.
Just a little pin prick
There'll be no more aaaaaaaah!
But you may feel a little sick
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working, good
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on it's time to go.

There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
And I have become
Comfortably numb.

(David Gilmore/Roger Waters) Pink Floyd

Note: Roger Waters wrote the lyrics.While many people thought the song is about drugs, Waters claims it is not.The lyrics are about what he felt like as a child when he was sick with fever.As an adult, he got the feeling again sometimes, entering a state of delirium, where he felt detached from reality. Listen to song on your right hand side - YouTube

ARE WE COMFORTABLY NUMB TO THE GENOCIDE AND ATROCITIES IN DARFUR.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

GENOCIDE AND ATROCITIES IN DARFUR - WHERE ARE THE GLOBAL POLICEMEN ?

HANTU LAUT

How many more innocent lives have to be extinguished before the rest of the world wake up to the genocide and atrocities committed by a government on its own people. Wasn't Rwanda a grim reminder of our failure to intervene and stop the massacre of millions of innocent men, women and children. Why has America, who asserted itself as the global policemen, took no interest in the genocide in Darfur ? Was it because Muslims killed Muslims, so let it be ? Even more shocking were the speeches by representatives from various Arabs countries that doubted the existence of such atrocities. Was it because Arabs killing black Africans, so let it be ? Is the UN a whore, as mentioned by the Executive Director of the UN Watch on Human Rights.

The UN is definitely whoring itself to the big and powerful. It is a do nothing and good for nothing organisation as far as security of its citizens are concerned. Its human rights watch is a joke.Over the past two decades the world have seen atrocious abuse of human rights and massacre of innocent and helpless people in many parts of the world and what have the UN done in term of intervention and prevention of further loss to human lives ? From the killing fields of Cambodia, ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, mass tribal killing in Rwanda to the genocide in Chechnya, the UN has not been able to intervene and contain the bloodshed. It has failed miserably to protect the hapless victims of human rights abuse.

The Iraq War, was testimony of its weakness when the US and Britain unilaterally decided to invade Iraq.The Security Council was a lame duck and other members were helpless as America, the most powerful of the lot, bullied the rest into acquiescence. What justification the Occident have to wage war on another sovereign nation.

Many of us looked upon the United States as the epitome of freedom and justice. I was once a great believer and supporter of America's sanctity of freedom and human rights. After having seen their conducts over the past decade I have completely lost faith in the sincerity and truthfulness of what they preached. Who is responsible for the daily killing of innocent civilians in Iraq ? If Iraq was not invaded would such atrocities have occurred ? As long as America stays in Iraq the killing will continue.Once they leave, Iraq will disintegrate.It's another one of the many follies of America's foreign policy.

In March 1998 on a visit to Rwanda, President Bill Clinton said "We come here today partly in recognition of the fact that we in the United States and the world community did not do as much as we could have and should have done to limit what occurred in Rwanda". An ex President of United States who claimed he didn't know the intensity of the problem, that's why America didn't act. Would you believe him ? In fact, the United States did virtually nothing. The Hutu government and its militiamen murdered almost 1.0 million Tutsi using firearms, machetes and a variety of garden implements.It was the fastest and most efficient killing spree of the twentieth century.

The killing of innocent civilians by state sponsored militiamen, the Janjaweed still continue unabated. Are we going to stand still and let the genocide continue ? We maybe helpless but America is not.

SHAME ON YOU AMERICA.

Courtesy:Miafarrow.org

6/25/2007 Goz Beida Refugee Camp, Chad

The last time I saw Abdulla Idris Zaid he was lying in Goz Beida hospital, his eyes having been gouged out by Janjaweed knives. It was November 2006. That was the week Arab militia from Sudan had joined with local Arab tribes to attack and burn 60 non-Arab villages. The dead and wounded had not yet been counted but there were many. Wherever I went, I saw survivors clustered under trees, dazed, grieving and terrified. Mostly they were women and children.

Mr Idris Zaid is 27 years old. He has an adorable two year old son, Yazin and a daughter, Boushra, aged 4 who gently offers her father a cup of water and leads him into their hut. The family now lives in an IDP camp, Gouroukoum, not far from Goz Beida. Abdullah’s father asked me if anyone in the international community has a skill that can replace his son’s eyes. I had to tell him there is nothing that can be done. I know because I have had two daughters without eyes. Eyes are not replaceable. I am so very sorry.

Abdullah told me,

“I used to be a farmer and I had animals. They attacked my village of Marmadanga and destroyed everything. They came at 10 am on horses and camels. Some were on foot. They had Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. We had nothing to defend ourselves with. They killed 90 people including 17 women and children. About 60 were injured. The women who could not run so fast were captured. The Arabs did whatever they wanted to them.

We fled into the bushes and hid. That night we returned to see who was dead. We were not able to take the dead or the injured. There was no way to carry them; they had destroyed everything. We fled to Kolloy (another village some distance away) But then they attacked Kolloy.

They shot me as I ran. Then they chased me with horses. I fell and they beat me and drove a knife into my eyes. They left me for dead.

The attackers were Arabs from Darfur. When they attack they say, ‘We don’t want you black people here.”

Before this I used to farm. I used to go the bushes and cut wood to support my family. Now I cannot do anything. I am not able to work. And we are not safe here."


mia farrow


^^ The bottles one is regular bottled water on the right (mine) the bottle on the left is the water the children are drinking in the town of Kerfi. Not far from Goz Beida.


Yet the children of Gouroukoun are playing and laughing. They think my skin is funny, some touch my arm and feel my hair. I gave a small mirror attached to a powder compact to a group of women. Shyly and amidst gales of laughter they took turns looking at themselves. Some just stared in silence into their own image. They wanted to know what the powder is for. Of course here, where even the most basic essentials are in short supply, that powder is not only useless but I was too ashamed to even attempt to describe how I or anyone else might use it.

1952 COMIC PREDICTS BUSH/CHENY IRAN POLICY

Click to enlarge

Cartoonist and all-around seeker of unusual truths, Jay Kinney, says:

Attached is a page from T-Man comics #3 from 1952. I just happened upon it by chance and - Holy Smokes! - all was revealed. We can now grasp the origins of the Bush administration's foreign policy! It was all there in T-Man #3, 55 years ago! Perhaps Cheney read this comic in his youth and just bided his time until he was in a position to actualize it in real life.


Source: Boing Boing

Friday, July 13, 2007

QUOTABLES QUOTES - MALAYSIAN STYLE

HANTU LAUT

Many great speeches have been made by many great leaders.Not all are the best from literary point of view but they have had profound effect on society and some have become famous quotations and some had become part of the language.

Malaysian politicians and leaders have also produced some amazing speeches. Below are some, aren't exactly great quotations:

1."if people are allowed to make fun of Malaysia's leaders they would used the same freedoms to insult the Prophet Mohammed as is done in the West" - from the keris weilding Malay warrior, Hishammuddin Onn, Minister of Education of Malaysia.

Wow! Malaysian politicians' status have now been elevated to the same level as Prophet Muhammad. Where is the Mufti of Perak, is he also sleeping on the job ?

2. " To me, press freedom cannot go beyond the time-tested social contract" -
from Zainuddin Maidin,Minister of Information of Malaysia.

I need some help here, can anyone decipher what is he trying to convey.

3."The political bloggers just write for each other to read, they are not a threat" -

by Zainuddin Maidin, Minister of Information of Malaysia

Adoi! He either has serious lapse of memory or the 'I dunno' syndrome, even my Rhodesian Ridgeback knew blogging covers the whole wide world (www). Bloggers should rejoice, they have been given a clean bill of health, not as contagious as it seems.

4."The phrase "Birth of a Nation" is misleading and gives the impression that Malaysia was only born 50 years ago.This was an insult to the country as it portrayed the Malays as a race without a nation of their own" - from Nasir Ismail, Tambun UMNO division chief, a wannabe rising star.

Is he misinformed, ignorant, insecured or lack of intelligentsia ?. There is something terribly wrong with this guy, Malaysia isn't 50 yet, it's the Federation of Malaya that is 50 years old on 31st August 2007.Malaysia was formed on 31st August 1963, to be more precise it was actually on 16th Sept 1963.This is what happened when politicians get involved in writing history book. Was it necessary to lie to the future generation?

Which history book they guy read? Didn't he know there were many Malay kingdoms before. Malacca, founded by Pramaswara in 1400, Pattani, founded by Langkasuka was the oldest Malay Kingdom on the Malay Peninsula and there were other much older kingdoms, Majapahit and Srivijaya in the Indonesian Archipelago.

Please allow me to quote a few great quotations from some past great leaders:

1."You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time" - Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United State.

2."The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" -
Franklin D.Roosevelt, 32nd President of United States.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

MALAYSIA TODAY: GUTTER, JUNK ,YELLOW OR SHERLOCK HOLMES ?

HANTU LAUT

When Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst took out their circulation battles from 1895 to 1898 using unethical and unprofessional practices, a new form of journalism was born. The New York Press called it yellow journalism. No definition was given as to why it was called yellow.It's probably had to do with the colour of the paper they used at that time.

Yellow journalism or popularly known as gutter press, sometimes called junk food news, are journalism that resorted to sensationalism.Using scandal, gossip and lie to boost circulation.

Professional Journalism has its own 'code of ethics'. They are the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability. Even more important is the 'limitation of harm', which are the actions of withholding of certain details from the story such as names of minor, crime victims' names and fabricated information that might harm some one's reputation.

However, freedom of speech is not absolute, for instant, you can't falsely " shouting fire in a crowded theatre" and claimed freedom of speech.Other limiting doctrines are those of libel, obscenity and if it is likely to incite imminent lawless action.

The Internet, other than its many good applications, had also opened up a whole wide world of detriments. It is a haven for crooks, sex offenders, street peddlers, con artists, smut artists, wannabes media mogul and think of anything bad, you would probably find it on the Net.

In the past to be a publisher you probably need million of dollars to start a publishing business.With the advent of the internet anyone equipped with a PC and with access to the internet could be a publisher and can have global coverage.

I remember in the early eighties when my company in Kuala Lumpur decided to computerise our office it costed us an incredible amount of RM 350,000. to purchase Wang Computers, which were called mini computer then and they were no where near as powerful as some of the PC you have at home nowadays. They needed a sizable room to store and needed round the clock air-conditioning. It frequently went haywire for no apparent reason. Believe it or not, the technicians eventually found the source of the problem, nylon stockings. Those were the days when nylon stockings were very popular with the ladies. We have no choice but to ban our office girls operating the computer from using nylon stockings. The actual source of the problem was not the stocking itself but the static electricity in it.

Sorry, that was a bit of a detour, now, let's get back to the subject. Blogging! Don't you think it's the most wonderful invention ? The world is at your fingertip. You can reach out and influence people, how you wish to do it, is up to you. You can be anonymous or you can identify yourself.You can write nice things about people or nasty things.'The pen mightier than the sword' wasn't that true with the pen. Blogging is better and mightier, it can be more constructive or more destructive, up to you.

Malaysia has one very popular blog that claimed to have few millions hit a day. It is extremely popular with the anti-establishment crowd. Some of the stories may hold water but most are just attempt to boost popularity. Let see how this particular blog gained popularity and the preferred language popularly used by the fans.

The following are comments from loyal fans:

harimau kayu wrote:
PM...Liar liar..pants on fire!!
Don't know..don't know..don't know..or don't want to know??
Please la..nitwit Bodohwi..takkan la everything also dunno..you are the PM for goodness sake. What do you know beside bonking Jeanne? Did you bonk her before Endon died? Is that why she stayed away in USA while you romp with her? Weren't you two caught in a compromising position by Nori in Perth? oh dear Bodohwi..WAKE UP!!!
09/07 09:52:33

hailamchai wrote:
Pukimak everything "I don't know". What a PARIAH.What a shame to all Malaysias to have such an idiot walking around as PM of Malaysia.Get out!!! Go back and sleep.You are not competent to run a country as your comments/replies to questions are often stupid.
09/07 11:27:53

borneopeteliew wrote:
husin lampah, you are just a cunt. go lick Najib's balls!

husin lempoyang wrote:
Ooi! Pemakan babi dan pembela anjing yg suka menyondol dan menyalak. Mana boleh panggil RPK?! Ingat adik engaku ke ... pengurang ajar!

Faham lah sikit protocol. Orang tak ada protocol baik adalah orang tak ada adab sopan dan budi bahasa. Itu pasal kau orang layak di maki hamun saja.

As a royal family, he shd be addressed as Yang Mulai or Tengku or Engku or even the casual version pun Ku as in Ku Li.

YOu be addressed respectably as encik atau tuan. A teaher is addressed cikgu or tuan guru.

Orang melayu banyak hormat mengjhormati ... bukan macam babi dan anjing ni semua.

husin lempoyang wrote:
YM RPK

So many support you in your effort.

I hope when the crunch comes, they are actually there when it really counts and not held back for fear of their family, buiness interest and do not forget their own ego.

I m sure more isue will surface.
04/07 20:54:18

The following are excerpts from the great compositions of Raja Petra. A literary masterpiece that could win Malaysia's Pulitzer or Booker prize. Unfortunately, there aren't any in this country, as we still haven't given priority and recognition to literary achievement, as much as we did to feats and things that can 'shock and awe' us and diligently record them in our Holy Grail, The Malaysian Book of Records.

"Jeanne is dangerous. She is dangerous to those who want to be the hidden hands to those who walk in the corridors of power. Jeanne will have to be neutralised. And if she can’t be neutralised then she has to be compromised. Jeanne must be very wary of strangers bearing gifts. Never accept any apples because apples have a tendency of hiding the poison in it. And there will be many with arms outstretched holding the poisoned chalice in the hope that Jeanne will take that proverbial drink that will send her into oblivion. Even as you read this hands are at play in digging up Jeanne’s past, with photographs and all, to prove to the world that she is not what she appears to be".

The one below is about the murder of Razak Baginda's Mongolian sweetheart. What? A judicial commissioner is not a judge ? Maybe the Chief Justice should clarify.

" So it was decided. This man who is not even a judge but only a judicial commissioner would be given Abdul Razak Baginda’s case to hear. And he would be told how the case is to be decided. And it could be decided either way. Najib can be implicated in the case or he can be spared. The outcome will not be the court’s decision. It will not even be Khairy’s decision. It will be Najib’s decision. His future will be in his own hands. He decides his own fate. And how he plays ball will be that deciding factor.

And, with that in place, Khairy had successfully laid the groundwork for Najib’s downfall. One of Najib’s supporters who had smelled a rat went to meet him to inform him about this very troubling turn of events. Najib was also told that Razak’s lawyers had negotiated a ‘settlement’ with the Attorney-General. They will amend the charges against Razak if he turns crown witness. He will be spared the gallows but he will have to sing like a canary".

The contradictions in the two paragraphs is unbelieveable. It's more hyperbolic than a true reflection of the actual situation and a litany if you have to read the whole composition.

To be accepted in Malaysia Today you must concur with the author, any opposing views will be dealt with severely. You must be euphonious like those bunch of proletarian with smutty language or be banished and banned.

Who is more democratic and sanctimonious? Raja Petra or our government ? I let you make your own judgement.

Hypocrisy is a homage that vice pays to virtue.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

HEADS DON'T ROLL IN MALAYSIA

HANTU LAUT

Intentional or not, shouldn't have happenned. A slap on the Minister's face.

The Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs, Shafie Apdal dropped a bombshell when he admitted of not being informed by Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) on the latest increase in the price of rice, a controlled item. Should Shafie resign from his Ministerial post or should he makes sure some heads roll in Bernas?

The Minister should demand full explanation from Bernas for the failure to get his Ministry's approval before they increase the price. The people need to know and Bernas have better come up with a plausible explanation.

Many Federal agencies are runned by Napolean wannabies.With monopoly given to them, who needs a hotshot to run such organisation.

In Malaysia, Malay heads don't normally roll.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

SIAPA NAJIS, ANAK PEREMPUAN MELAYU ATAU LELAKI MELAYU?

HANTU LAUT

A religious man said to a whore, 'You are drunk,

Caught every moment in a different snare.'
She replied, 'Oh Shaikh, I am what you say,
Are you what you seem ?'

Omar Khayyam 1048-1122

A message for the 'God of Virtue' at the Perak Religious Department.
A message to all the Sultans to excerise some control over the 'God of Virtue' in their respective state.
A message to the Prime Minister to disband the 'Gods of Virtue' before they destroy this country in the name of Islam.

"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil;
in its worst state, an intolerable one"

Thomas Paine, Common Sense 1737-1809

Thursday, July 5, 2007

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

HANTU LAUT

Why are Malaysian, especially, those from the bumiputra community are so easily ruffled by what other people say ? Making a storm in a teacup seems to be a common phenomenon in this country.

Most of our politicians aren't hardy enough to take criticism in their stride and, more often than not, they came out looking like they have a serious inferiority complex. Full distinction should be given to our Minister of Information, Zainuddun Maidin.He has lambasted anything and everything from local bloggers to BBC to the Indonesian press. Do we have to react like little children every time the foreign press or foreign leaders said something about Malaysia.

A recent statement made by Singapore Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew caused an uproar and started tongues wagging particularly with the Malay community. The remark by Lee wasn't, a tongue in cheek, but a serious advice to Singaporean investors to be extra careful and not rush to put their money in the Iskander Development Region (IDR), in view of numerous objections from Malaysia, particularly from Johor.

It was the Malaysian side that first run the gauntlet by admonishing the Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he and his counterpart from Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong suggested the formation of a Joint Consultative Committee to overlook the development of the IDR.Political writers, politicians from both sides of the political fence and many smart-arse bloggers jumped on the bandwagon and made scurrilous attacks on the Prime Minister, accused him of selling out to Singapore.

Lee Kuan Yew, known for not mincing his words said "On one side Pas is trying to topple the Prime Minister but when UMNO leaders, particularly from Johor are doing the same, Singaporean investors must seriously ask themselves when this attitude will change and when they welcome us in IDR". I would say it was a very profound statement coming from a veteran statesman.A man, even at his ripe old age, can be so meticulous in his perceptions of the political situation in this country.

Who can deny the fact that there is a concerted effort by certain group in UMNO to remove Abdullah as Prime Minister.How serious is the threat to Abdullah's leadership is at best, a guessing game.Whether the plotters will succeed is a million dollar question.The only one honest about it was Mahathir.He publicly declared that he had made mistake and deemed Abdullah not suitable for the job. Although, I don't agree with him, I respect his honesty. There are those who pretended to be nice but worked secretly behind his back to sabotage his policies and his support within the party. Some, from the bloggers community, out of control and in overdrive, with their smear campaigns and uncalled for attacks on his personality was proof enough that some politicians are working behind the scene to weaken his power base.Even his new wife was not spared the unkind cut.

Those who are most worried and against the proposed collaboration with Singapore are mostly UMNO politicians. Their worries and objections had nothing to do with national pride but more out of preconceived fear of missed opportunities if greater part of the project were given directly to foreign investors without inclusion of the compulsory bumiputra equity. The habits of making it easy and taking it easy are too deeply entrenched in the their psyche. For them, that's the only way they know, how to make money.

Singapore, is the devil that we know. The tiny island nation can only survive by being competitive.There is no room for complacency and passivity.We have dealt with them for over forty years and should by now know their strength and weaknesses. If they can still outdo us than we have only ourselves to blame.

'Forewarned is forearmed'. Lee Kuan Yew wasn't wrong when he forewarned Singaporean about the danger to their investment, he was just being honest about what he perceived to be true. His opinion stays his and have no serious impact on ordinary Malaysians.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

RUBA'IYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM

A religious man said to a whore, 'You're drunk,
Caught every moment in a different snare'
She replied, 'Oh Shaikh, I am what you say,
Are you what you seem ?'

Omar Khayyam. 1048-1122

Monday, July 2, 2007

SOMETHING TO LEARN FROM SABAHAN ?

HANTU LAUT

Surely the Indonesia Press are doing its job ? by Farish A.Noor.

I hope our Minister of Information, Zainuddin Maidin would not accuse him of being unpatriotic for his open support of the Indonesian press report of ill treatment of foreign workers in Malaysia. Any civilised nation should be concerned and take care of the welfare of its citizens where ever they may be. The Indonesian media would be totally irresponsible if they didn't highlight the story. In the recent Lina Joy's apostasy case, Maidin slammed the BBC and accused them of trying to run down Malaysia and said "There is clear proof that the Western media will use any opportunity for 'Islamic bashing' without regard for any country as long as it practises Islamic law". Maidin, for reasons only known to himself seemed to be always in conflicts with the media.

Many Malaysians are in dire need of moral education to teach them how to treat the less fortunate with dignity and respect. The Nirmala Bonat case was the first exposure to Malaysia's hidden sham and hypocrisy. Even more shameful is the snail pace her case is moving in our hall of justice. It is over three years now and no attempt has been made to speed up the case to bring justice to the victim. Many Malaysians were equally shocked and were in disbelief when cases of maid abuse surfaced and reported in the media.What had been reported could just be the tip of the iceberg, there could be many more unreported cases where victims maybe afraid of losing their source of income and further retaliation if no evidence could be found to bring criminal charges against the perpetrator. The recent case of Ceryati Dapin, who did a death defying flight by going down through a window at the 15th floor of her employer's apartment by using a makeshift rope was another showcase of the monstrous capacity for cruelty of some Malaysian.She lost her nerve on the 12th floor and was fortunate enough to be rescued. She could have fallen down and killed herself. She must have been treated so badly, with physical and mental abuse, for her to risk her life, in order to escape from the clutches of her psychotic employer.

Even more serious was the case of R.Ganesh, an Indian national who was so badly abused and starved without food by his employer. He eventually died and went home in a coffin, to a heartbroken family.

How could some of our fellow Malaysians behaved in such a beastly manner and have no compassion whatsoever for the weak, the helpless and the poor. Was it the environment or bad upbringing that was to blame for those who meted out such inhumane treatment to another human being ?

West Malaysia and Singapore seemed to be more prominent with cases of maid abuse and seemed to be contagious to all ethnic group. Other than suffering at the hands of their employer they are also at the mercy of other predators, in the names of law enforcement. These vultures have no compassion, those that can be fleeced will be fleeced, and those who can't afford to pay, will be arrested, irrespective of whether they have proper papers or not.

In Sabah, abuse of maids or foreign workers are unheard of. Are Sabahans more civilised and more humane than their counterparts in West Malaysia ? Sabahans may not be more civilised but they certainly have more civilised manners, are more hospitable to foreigners and do not have social hang-ups about maids and labourers as being inferior to them. Middle class Sabahans have much longer history of having maids than most West Malaysians. This, maybe, was due to the close proximity to Indonesia and Philippines where vast pool of cheap labour were readily available.It is quite common to find maids working for the same employer for over twenty years or more. Most long serving and loyal employees are treated as part of the family. Even in Chinese homes, children are thought by their parents, to address their maids as kakah. In most households they are also allowed to help themselves to the same type of food that their employers eat.

In Sabahan homes, it is highly improbable, to force a maid to stay if she is not suitable for the job or if she wishes to leave voluntarily.

Empathy, is probably better understood in the "Land Below The Wind"