Hantu Laut
The Year 2008 was a momentous year which many of us would be glad to leave behind.The year ended with even more tragedies, the bombing of Gaza by Israel that killed hundreds of innocent civilians and a tragedy that took the lives of about 60 New Year's Eve revellers in a nightclub fire in Bangkok.A night of merry making that ended in tragic consequence.The nightclub owner should rot in jail for a long time.
I feel for the parents and loved ones of those who perished in the fire.Danger do not forewarn us and we accept acts of God as something beyond our control but when human failings were the cause of our grief, the pain, the anger and the desire to hit back persist for a long time.The pain of losing someone you love, those of your own flesh and blood is a torment that not many can endure.It's a stab in the heart that reposes in silence.For some of us time is a great healer but for some the wound would never healed.
New Year's Eve has always been a traditional and universal display of joy to usher in the New Year with resolutions and expectations.Alcohol is the spirit for those who needs it to trigger their adrenaline rush to meet this joyous occasion. The police have always warned revellers not to drink and drive.Good advice not many of us took seriously.
As we live far from where we are going for the evening and being law abiding citizens my wife and I checked into a hotel at 6.30 p.m.The first stage of our evening was dinner at a friend's house, a doctor by profession and a gourmet cook with a passion when he is not dissecting patients.Sumptuous food, good wine, good spirits and enduring conversations with doses of intellectual intercourse and unintelligible talks that went on till the wee hours of the morning.There were so much talking among friends and families, the drone of conversation actually drown the sound of music played in the background which finally died by itself and forgotten.There were so much to talk about even 'Auld Lang Syne' was forgotten at the stroke of midnight.
We left our friend's house at about 2 a.m. and both truly at 60 and still full of energy decided to go to our regular watering hole, our favourite club, and what a pleasant surprise most of our friends and people we know were still there.It was a jolly good New Year's morning.Went back to the hotel as the cock was crowing.We have never spent New Year's Eve this late, it must be a good omen.Checked out of the hotel 8 a.m.Slept only three hours, old people don't need much sleep, and we are old by any measure and poorer by about RM400.00 for a room that we only used for four hours but happy and glad to be alive.
Don't drink and drive ? Yes ! If you have too much,take it seriously, killing yourself may not be as painful as you killing others.
Well let me get to the real gist of the story. Most Malaysians would probably have read this hot item in the news.I could not but feel apprehensive about the whole thing.Was it really a sex party or just a group of friends getting together for a New Year bash and where alcohol would be consumed and the danger of drink driving was taken seriously hence the renting of the service apartment for the party.As usual Malaysia's main stream media including the worst of the lot, Bernama, can never publish a complete story. This kind of reporting print a pretty picture of the standard of journalism in this country.
How did the police stumble on the private party,was there a tip-off, were they caught red-handed having sex orgies, were there complaint from the public of them being public nuisance and disturbing the peace? How can you called a party a sex party when there were no actual fucking and screwing and the people were found fully clothed.
The worst is the media reporting of personalities involved which can be narrowed down to identifying the persons concerned.Other than the drug taking which I am against, the police has no business busting a private party.Don't we Malaysians have anymore personal liberty?
Where their effort are much needed in crime prevention and solving crimes they pay little attention, so much so, the rape and murder of so many young girls were still unsolved.The thieves and robbers are getting bolder, violent crime is on the rise, organised crime are getting more organised and the police are more organised catching people who were having a good time, probably on a tip-off from a spurned lover or from someone out of envy and jealousy.
In Pahang, over-zealous enforcers from the Islamic Religious Council, who had nothing better to do other than raiding budget hotels hoping to get a hard on catching unwary couple in bed and hoping to make video of it and post it on the Internet.Around 56 people were detained in early morning raid.I wonder how many were forced to strip to face the camera as evidence they were screwing each other.There have been reported incidents of such appalling behaviour of these enforcers of God's laws.
In another news, Malaysiakini reported a man was tortured by police by pouring boiling water over him.He was badly scalded.Bukit Aman is investigating.We have to wait what Bukit Aman have to say about this gruesome action of the police if the allegation is found true.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR
HANTU LAUT
"A new year is unfolding.
Let this year be filled with the things that are truly good—with the comfort of warmth in our relationships, with the strength to help those who need our help and the humility and openness to accept help from others.
As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible and let us work toward making this world a safe and better place to live in"
WISHING A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY READERS IN MALAYSIA AND WHEREVER THEY MAY BE.
This blog is on HIATUS for the next few days to welcome the New Year.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
We Have Seen:The Year That Was
Hantu Laut
The year is drawing to an end and I would like to thank those of you that have regularly visited this blog, supported me, agreed with me, disagreed with me, admonished me, called me names and those that have crossed swords with me, from all of you, I have learned to accept the diversity and complexity of the human race, the temperament and the emotion that comes with it, the multiplicity and diversity that have made us so different in thought yet so similar in structure.
We have seen wars, massive destruction of properties and human lives, the miseries and sufferings of the victims of war, the famine and starvation of the unfortunates in the less fortunate world.
We have seen those who built to destroy, love to hate and kill with joy.We have seen how the power of the rich and mighty vanquished the weak and the poor. We have seen how the greed for money brought us to the brink of a global disaster and how the trusted turned to be untrustworthy.
We have seen how the thieves and robbers in their Armani and Saville Row suits brought down the world's financial system to its knees and brought miseries and financial losses to the global community and to those who placed trust in them.
We have seen those who spoke and sanctify morality,of doing good and extol the rule of justice only to cover their own immorality and wickedness.
We have seen abuses of military might to exert control over weak and poor nations.We have seen how might is right and the abhorrent treatment of the weak and the vanquished.
We have seen the assaults and violations of our fundamental rights to freedom, to speak freely and to right injustices.We have seen the incarceration of those who fight for good over evil.
We have seen the rise of bigotry, intolerance and religious fanatism .We have seen the sancitity of religion acrimoniously washed in the oceans of hate, vangeance and atrocities.We have seen the killing of the innocences in the name of religion.
We have seen the greatest change in the history of the greatest nation on this earth.We have seen what was seen impossible become possible.We have seen the progeny of the past downtrodden, the enslaved, the discriminated and the contempt rose to the highest office.
We have seen the first black man elected as President of the United States of America, a nation that had truly matured in courage and in humanity.A nation that had seen the evils of judging colour,race and creed.A nation that sees what you can do for your country and not what you can do for your race.
As Malaysians we have seen challenging times and the changing of the political landscape of this great nation which we haven't had the courage to see through in the past.
We have seen how the power that be slowly but surely destroying the fabric of racial and religious harmony in this country.We have seen the rise of racism and religious bigotry and intolerance among the races.We have seen how the corrupt with their ill-gotten gains walked the corridors of power.We have seen the muffling of freedom to speak freely and the erosion of personal liberty.
We have seen many yet make very little changes.
Would we dare make more changes that would make this nation as one, free of conflicts of race and religion, contempt for injustices and protection of our constitutional rights and equality as citizens by right of birth rather than that of ethnicity.
If miracle does take time than nothing is impossible.
As Malaysians we can and will make those changes.
Once again I full-heartedly wish to thank all of you and wish everyone a very Happy New Year
The year is drawing to an end and I would like to thank those of you that have regularly visited this blog, supported me, agreed with me, disagreed with me, admonished me, called me names and those that have crossed swords with me, from all of you, I have learned to accept the diversity and complexity of the human race, the temperament and the emotion that comes with it, the multiplicity and diversity that have made us so different in thought yet so similar in structure.
We have seen wars, massive destruction of properties and human lives, the miseries and sufferings of the victims of war, the famine and starvation of the unfortunates in the less fortunate world.
We have seen those who built to destroy, love to hate and kill with joy.We have seen how the power of the rich and mighty vanquished the weak and the poor. We have seen how the greed for money brought us to the brink of a global disaster and how the trusted turned to be untrustworthy.
We have seen how the thieves and robbers in their Armani and Saville Row suits brought down the world's financial system to its knees and brought miseries and financial losses to the global community and to those who placed trust in them.
We have seen those who spoke and sanctify morality,of doing good and extol the rule of justice only to cover their own immorality and wickedness.
We have seen abuses of military might to exert control over weak and poor nations.We have seen how might is right and the abhorrent treatment of the weak and the vanquished.
We have seen the assaults and violations of our fundamental rights to freedom, to speak freely and to right injustices.We have seen the incarceration of those who fight for good over evil.
We have seen the rise of bigotry, intolerance and religious fanatism .We have seen the sancitity of religion acrimoniously washed in the oceans of hate, vangeance and atrocities.We have seen the killing of the innocences in the name of religion.
We have seen the greatest change in the history of the greatest nation on this earth.We have seen what was seen impossible become possible.We have seen the progeny of the past downtrodden, the enslaved, the discriminated and the contempt rose to the highest office.
We have seen the first black man elected as President of the United States of America, a nation that had truly matured in courage and in humanity.A nation that had seen the evils of judging colour,race and creed.A nation that sees what you can do for your country and not what you can do for your race.
As Malaysians we have seen challenging times and the changing of the political landscape of this great nation which we haven't had the courage to see through in the past.
We have seen how the power that be slowly but surely destroying the fabric of racial and religious harmony in this country.We have seen the rise of racism and religious bigotry and intolerance among the races.We have seen how the corrupt with their ill-gotten gains walked the corridors of power.We have seen the muffling of freedom to speak freely and the erosion of personal liberty.
We have seen many yet make very little changes.
Would we dare make more changes that would make this nation as one, free of conflicts of race and religion, contempt for injustices and protection of our constitutional rights and equality as citizens by right of birth rather than that of ethnicity.
If miracle does take time than nothing is impossible.
As Malaysians we can and will make those changes.
Once again I full-heartedly wish to thank all of you and wish everyone a very Happy New Year
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Is Sarawak Going To Anwar's PKR ?
Hantu Laut
Anwar Ibrahim sees Sabah and Sarawak as easy picking.He has taken over as PKR's liaison chairman for both Sabah and Sarawak.Some PKR leaders in both states are in a quandary.They think he has no trust and confidence in them to lead the party.In Sabah it was rumoured that Jeffery Kitingan, one of the vice-presidents of PKR may leave the party soon due to dissatisfaction with the leadership.Former liaison Chairman Ansari Abdullah had relinquished his position earlier and the position was taken up by Anwar.
Sarawak would be having its state elections latest by 2011 and Anwar foresees erosion of support for Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and his coalition government.He based his findings on the dissatisfaction of the Dayak and Chinese voters against Taib's administration.The same was said of Musa Aman of Sabah in the March 2008 General Elections but the result was a shocking disbelief.Most people predicted Musa and the BN would lose badly in the elections.The BN won with a huge landslide and together with Sarawak saved the Federal government from falling to the oppositions.Both chief ministers had shown their mantles and the federal leaders would be foolish to ignore their contributions to the saving of UMNO.You can only win elections overwhelmingly if you have good organisational setup.
Sabah and Sarawak are the mothers of money politics, progenitors of vote buying, political arm twisting and the ultimate money can buy anything.If words can't convince you money can and more often than not it works and Sabah and Sarawak have plenty of it during elections times.
In the 'Land Of The Hornbills' there are more money growing on trees than the legendary birds in the forests.The forests have made millionaires and billionaires.
Today, the biggest logging companies in the world are no longer the Americans or British, they are Sarawakian companies with logging activities spanning the world's rainforests from small island nation of Solomon Islands to Africa,South America and the forests of Siberia.These businessmen are the epitome of 'rags to riches' story and many owed their success to the Sarawak Chief Minister.A friend of mine once told me that in Chinese culture and more so with the Foochow 'you don't forget those who has helped you' and also 'you don't forget those that had betrayed you'.The 'Foochows' of Sarawak control most of the big businesses especially timber.
It is no use to complain about money politics, it is too much ingrained in the political system everywhere and the worst culprits are those in UMNO.Buying favours and corruptions, which is one and the same, is one of the world's oldest profession.Maybe, the government should adopt a system similar to the American and legalise money politics.
It is not that the people of Sarawak don't want any political change, but what are the alternatives? Can PKR be the right answer ? Bringing PKR to Sarawak is the same as bringing UMNO to Sarawak.Looking at the Sabah experience and if PKR or Pakatan took over the state government in the next state elections but were not able to capture the federal government, than they would become an opposition state and suffer the same fate as PBS of Sabah when it was out of the BN. In the event Pakatan succeeded in taking over the federal government than Sarawak would become a subservient state like Sabah.
Sarawakians may be faced with a Hobson's choice, stay with the status quo or trade-in state rights to the central government.
PKR and DAP might make some inroads into some disgruntled Dayak and Chinese areas in Sarawak but not enough to rein in the government.Sarawakians are still suspicious of handing over total power to Peninsula-based political party.
The biggest problem for Anwar is would his Pakatan Rakyat survive until the Sarawak state elections in 2011.The bickering between DAP and PAS has widen the gap and would get bigger as time goes by. Adding to the problem is Anwar's silence on PAS hudud law ambition, he remained muted for fear of a backlash from PAS leadership.
Would Anwar be able to capture Sarawak as portrayed in this article.
I would say he gets as far as the 'nickel and dime'
According to reliable sources, the BN could lose up to 30 seats in the next state elections, which would mean that Pakatan Rakyat just needs to capture six extra seats to win power, if the elections were held today.
(A caption for the article from Malaysian Insider 'Anwar sniffing victory in Taib’s backyard')
Anwar Ibrahim sees Sabah and Sarawak as easy picking.He has taken over as PKR's liaison chairman for both Sabah and Sarawak.Some PKR leaders in both states are in a quandary.They think he has no trust and confidence in them to lead the party.In Sabah it was rumoured that Jeffery Kitingan, one of the vice-presidents of PKR may leave the party soon due to dissatisfaction with the leadership.Former liaison Chairman Ansari Abdullah had relinquished his position earlier and the position was taken up by Anwar.
Sarawak would be having its state elections latest by 2011 and Anwar foresees erosion of support for Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and his coalition government.He based his findings on the dissatisfaction of the Dayak and Chinese voters against Taib's administration.The same was said of Musa Aman of Sabah in the March 2008 General Elections but the result was a shocking disbelief.Most people predicted Musa and the BN would lose badly in the elections.The BN won with a huge landslide and together with Sarawak saved the Federal government from falling to the oppositions.Both chief ministers had shown their mantles and the federal leaders would be foolish to ignore their contributions to the saving of UMNO.You can only win elections overwhelmingly if you have good organisational setup.
Sabah and Sarawak are the mothers of money politics, progenitors of vote buying, political arm twisting and the ultimate money can buy anything.If words can't convince you money can and more often than not it works and Sabah and Sarawak have plenty of it during elections times.
In the 'Land Of The Hornbills' there are more money growing on trees than the legendary birds in the forests.The forests have made millionaires and billionaires.
Today, the biggest logging companies in the world are no longer the Americans or British, they are Sarawakian companies with logging activities spanning the world's rainforests from small island nation of Solomon Islands to Africa,South America and the forests of Siberia.These businessmen are the epitome of 'rags to riches' story and many owed their success to the Sarawak Chief Minister.A friend of mine once told me that in Chinese culture and more so with the Foochow 'you don't forget those who has helped you' and also 'you don't forget those that had betrayed you'.The 'Foochows' of Sarawak control most of the big businesses especially timber.
It is no use to complain about money politics, it is too much ingrained in the political system everywhere and the worst culprits are those in UMNO.Buying favours and corruptions, which is one and the same, is one of the world's oldest profession.Maybe, the government should adopt a system similar to the American and legalise money politics.
It is not that the people of Sarawak don't want any political change, but what are the alternatives? Can PKR be the right answer ? Bringing PKR to Sarawak is the same as bringing UMNO to Sarawak.Looking at the Sabah experience and if PKR or Pakatan took over the state government in the next state elections but were not able to capture the federal government, than they would become an opposition state and suffer the same fate as PBS of Sabah when it was out of the BN. In the event Pakatan succeeded in taking over the federal government than Sarawak would become a subservient state like Sabah.
Sarawakians may be faced with a Hobson's choice, stay with the status quo or trade-in state rights to the central government.
PKR and DAP might make some inroads into some disgruntled Dayak and Chinese areas in Sarawak but not enough to rein in the government.Sarawakians are still suspicious of handing over total power to Peninsula-based political party.
The biggest problem for Anwar is would his Pakatan Rakyat survive until the Sarawak state elections in 2011.The bickering between DAP and PAS has widen the gap and would get bigger as time goes by. Adding to the problem is Anwar's silence on PAS hudud law ambition, he remained muted for fear of a backlash from PAS leadership.
Would Anwar be able to capture Sarawak as portrayed in this article.
I would say he gets as far as the 'nickel and dime'
According to reliable sources, the BN could lose up to 30 seats in the next state elections, which would mean that Pakatan Rakyat just needs to capture six extra seats to win power, if the elections were held today.
(A caption for the article from Malaysian Insider 'Anwar sniffing victory in Taib’s backyard')
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