How Corruption Affect Us?

Most Malaysians don’t think twice about the level of corruption in this country. Some even welcome it. How many times have you illegally parked your car or dashed through a red light and paid the policeman a bribe of RM50 or RM100 to save paying a RM300 fine if you are issued a summons?

And that is cheap, mind you. In the police lockup, we have to pay the policemen RM100 for a three-minute local phone call and RM10 for a stick of cigarette. So that comes to RM200 per packet. I paid RM200 for one night’s ‘protection’. For RM200 I was placed in a ‘special’ lockup where a detainee awaiting trial for murder took me under his wing so that the others could not get at me. He even threw in a cigarette as part of the ‘package’.

And it costs RM250,000 for a drug dealer to escape the gallows.

My wife, who in 2001 was detained overnight in the women’s section of the police lockup, the same night I was arrested, spoke to one Indonesian woman who was on her second drug dealing arrest. The first time she and her husband were arrested they had to pay RM500,000 for both of them to get released. They were trying to arrange another RM500,000 to get out of this second arrest. So that came to RM1 million for two arrests. Imagine how much they must be making dealing in drugs. More importantly, imagine how much the police are making each time they get arrested.

I spoke to many of my Chinese businessmen friends and they admitted that it is easier to do business when corruption is involved. This saves time since you can bypass the normal requirements and get your applications approved much faster by just bribing the government officers. Sometimes, when you are not ‘eligible’, you can become eligible by paying bribes. So bribes actually help when faced with certain obstacles -- and there are definitely many 'obstacles' when dealing with governments in third world countries like Malaysia.

When corruption does not affect you directly you are not too concerned about it. It is like crime. As long as the robbers do not break into your home to rob you and rape your wife or daughter then who bothers too much about the high level of crime? It is when it is you that is hit that you become outraged about the high crime rate and the low level of police enforcement and lack of effort to combat crime.

Is it not those who suffer or suffered from cancer, or have lost a loved one to cancer, who gets involved in anti-cancer movements or associations? How many of us who never had to face cancer would want to donate generously to the anti-cancer effort? We never bother about something that does not affect us. And the same goes for other things as well, such as corruption and whatnot.

But corruption does affect us, contrary to what many may be thinking. Sometimes it affects us directly. Most times, indirectly.

An average of ten people die each day on Malaysian roads. Many more are seriously injured or maimed, sometimes resulting in them no longer being able to work and earn a living. The main reason for this is that Malaysians do not know how to drive.

Now, let there not be any confusion over this statement. Malaysians may have a valid driving licence. But Malaysians do not know how to drive. Do you know that in some European countries you can exchange your Singapore driving licence for a driving licence of your host country? But they will not accept a Malaysian driving licence. Malaysian driving licences tak laku (have no value).

I know someone, now deceased, who had a driving licence but could not even reverse her car out of the driveway. How in heaven’s name did she pass her driving test and get a licence if she can’t even reverse her car? And for sure she can’t drive.

Well, she told me. The driving school has two schemes. One is the ‘guaranteed to pass your driving test’ scheme -- which means you will pass your driving test and get a driving licence even if you can’t drive. The other scheme involves you taking the driving test and passing it all on your own.

The trouble with this legitimate scheme, though, is that even if you know how to drive they will still fail you as ‘punishment’ for refusing to participate in the ‘guaranteed to pass’ scheme. So it is better to pay, even if you can drive, and especially if you can’t, to be assured off a driving licence.

So, about ten people a day die on Malaysian roads because most of them have a driving licence but do not know how to drive. And those who die could be you, a family member, an office colleague, or a close friend. In short, that person who died in the traffic accident could be someone you know or someone close to you.

Therefore, corruption does affect you when you lose someone because of corruption -- or if it is you who dies. If this person were forced to learn how to drive properly before being given a licence then maybe he or she would still be alive today. I have personally lost scores of friends and relatives due to traffic accidents over the last 50 years or so. Sometimes it is their fault. The sad part is when the accident is someone else’s fault and you are a victim of reckless or inconsiderate drivers who have absolutely no road sense whatsoever.

I have also lost people dear to me due to poor medical facilities. There are not enough hospital beds in the intensive care unit or not enough dialysis machines or whatever, which results in poor medical facilities. And these people had to die because of this.

It is not that Malaysia does not have enough money to improve its medical facilities. It is that Malaysia spends the money for the wrong reasons -- and spends too much on top of that because there are kickbacks and commissions involved in every project and procurement. So medical facilities take a back seat and many of us have lost friends, colleagues and relatives because they were denied prompt or proper medical treatment.

If the money had not been wasted and had instead been spent for the right purposes -- medical and education being the two most important -- then Malaysia would be a much better place. As it is, our medical and educational facilities are below the so-called first world infrastructure that we are so proud of.

We have the best weapons. We have fantastic bridges, buildings and roads. Heck, we even have submarines now. But we are extremely lacking when it comes to medical and educational facilities. And health and education are far more important than all those white elephants and monuments that swallow billions but bring no income to the country, as would most white elephants and monuments.

Cars cost a lot in Malaysia. That, again, is due to corruption. If the government allowed a free-for-all in the car industry then cars would cost much cheaper than they do now. But they can’t allow a free-for-all. They can’t because cronies of those who walk in the corridors of power are making a lot of money from the car import permits and whatnot. So Malaysians have to pay double what they should actually be paying for their cars. But their salaries are not double what they should be.

So you end up a slave of your car instead of the car being your slave. You work for your car when your car should instead be working for you. And because of the sorry state of public transport you have no choice but to own a car. You just can’t get around without a car like you can in so many other countries.

After paying for your car what do you have left at the end of the day? Most times, because of your car, you can’t afford a decent home. Malaysians are actually very poor. The cost of living is so high while the salaries are very low. And corruption keeps Malaysians poor.

So perish the thought if you thought corruption does not affect you. It does, in more ways than you realise. And only naïve people would believe that corruption does not personally affect them or is actually beneficial to business. Malaysians are paying a heavy price for corruption. And the worse thing is we do not even realise we are paying.

Malaysians pay billions in all forms of taxes. But a lot of this money does not come back to us. It gets flushed down the toilet. Billions are lost -- RM30 billion by some estimates. And this is our money. Imagine if we had to pay only RM0.30 for a litre of petrol or RM1.80 for a packet of cigarette or RM50,000 for a Honda Civic. Would you not have more money left in your pocket? Nowadays, your money is finished by the tenth day of the month and you have to wait another 20 days for your next paycheque.

Don’t even start talking about saving money for a rainy day. This is just not possible. Corruption has taken away all your money whereas considering how rich this country is we should not even be asked to pay taxes or, even if we are, it could be a very minimum level that hardly hurts us.

For decades, the opposition has been fighting for the government to set a fair minimum wage appropriate to the cost of living. But the government does not agree to the RM900 per month minimum wage proposal.

In fact, even RM900 is still too low. Countries like the UK have announced that the minimum wage will now be adjusted to about RM35 per hour. That is what some Malaysians earn in a day. Yet the price of cigarettes in the UK is almost the same as in Malaysia. And so goes for many other things as well -- while cars are half the price or less compared to Malaysia.

No, Malaysians are poor. You earn so much less and have to pay so much more. Then corruption takes away what little you have left. And Malaysians still believe that corruption does not affect them directly.

And that is why I am of the opinion that PAS is not focused. They should be addressing the core issues. And the core issue here is corruption and how it affects us. Banning beer or sexy singers from appearing on stage does not offer Malaysians a better life. Even if beer and sexy singers are banned Malaysians will still remain poor. And we will remain poor because our money is being plundered and our low salaries and high taxes do not allow us a decent life.

Prophet Muhammad declared war on riba’ (usury). Riba’ basically means making money from no effort of your own. And, according to Sheikh Imran Hossein, there are 80 levels of riba’, corruption being one of them (since corruption involves making money in a dishonest manner and from no effort of your own).

But PAS does not declare war on corruption. PAS declares war on beer and sexy women. PAS does not understand that corruption and poverty is the real enemy. Poverty enslaves us. Corruption makes us even poorer.

PAS should take up the Prophet’s real fight, the fight against corruption and poverty. And poverty is the breeding ground of corruption. When you are broke one week after receiving your salary you need to resort to corruption to survive.

By Raja Petra Kamarudin

Sure Or Not?

This took place in Charlotte, North Carolina
A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against, among other things, fire.
Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars, the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company..
In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost ' in a series of small fires. '
The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason, that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion.
The lawyer sued and WON !

Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous..
The judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company, in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable, and
also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be unacceptable ' fire ' and was obligated to pay
the claim.
Rather than endure a lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his
loss of the cigars that perished in the ' fires ' .

NOW FOR THE BEST PART...

After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON!!!
With his own insurance claim, and testimony from the previous case, being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning
his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.

KFC Tipu Saya

This is what KFC advertised
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The reality
.
.
.

Ghost at Neway 1Utama

Got freaked out by the pic I took last Sunday at Neway 1Utama. Beware. Be careful and watch your back. Someone might love to sing with you...

Chivas

Chivas... Makes your dog drunk

Obscene

I came across this business signboard at Plaza TTDI. Reminds me of Edison Chen *winks* .... I wonder what kind of food they sell inside, haha!!

It's a catchy name. I'm sure it brings big business:)

English to BM to English to BM

My first comeback Post.....is to slam those numbskull buggers;) hahahahha!!!!!!

I don't want to talk much and I shall let the picture do the talking.


See, even in the national language they can get it so wrong... If you can't see it, you're a victim of Acute Intelligence Deficiency Syndrome. Don't blame yourself: they've spoonfed us since primary.

Ignorantia lingua non excusat!!

The Voice of Reason

I've been going through a difficult week filled with mental torture and stress. My studies is one of them, and there's another cause for concern crept up not too long ago. Sigh!

I went to my auntie's house and as if God heard my prayers asking him to sort my mess out, without asking or telling my aunt, she told me a story. I sat there and listened for 1 hour or so, and my, my mind was slowly filled with gleams of hope and I felt peaceful. My auntie has been a staunch and faithful devotee of Buddhism. I'm a Buddhist too, but my spiritual knowledge is shallow. One lacking of experience and reason.

When you're filled with trouble, don't try to keep it to yourself if you cannot contain it. Seek help. Voice out to someone who's willing to listen. His/Her advice may not give you an instant solution to the problem you're facing, but in a long term, reflecting on what has been said, it'll be very beneficial to you.

It doesn't solve my problem at hand but it did indeed change my way of looking at things. In the end, I still have to pull myself up with my own effort but it is easier and less time consuming because someone is there to guide me.

The Gambling Problem

Let's go straight to the point. Gambling if not controlled will screw up your life. Whatever it is, or whatever you're doing, don't put your life into it. Please tell yourself that you don't want to end up like my friends here.

I have a friend, X, whose uncle is a compulsive gambler. Naturally they'll gamble whatever they have. It feels good when you win and you'll feel high if you lose. The problem only started, of course, when you start losing. You lose that RM100, you want to win it back. What's the next thing you'll do? Well, put another RM100. And if you lose that round again, you want to win back your RM200. What are you going to do again? RM200 on the table. You lose RM 400 in 3 minutes. It snowballs up to thousands if you're not careful and this could happen in mere 60 minutes of flipping cards.

Compared to womanizing,drug addiction, smoking, drinking, gambling can be the worst sin of them all. You womanize, you die of HIV at 30. You're addicted to heroin, congrats!! You don't live past 40. You smoke, congrats again. You'll suffer lung cancer and depends on whether God loves you or not, you won't live past 50. You binge drinking. Cirrhosis and you die at 60. All of which stated, you'll suffer the consequences alone. Ok, maybe I'm wrong on the womanizing part, most probably nothing will happen if you're careful and selective;) But with gambling, you die together with your family which I think it's a little bit too selfish.

First, the vultures will circle around you with the pretence of lending you some cash. You lose again. You borrow again. Again. Again. Then, when you feel hopeless and try to leave the gambling den, those 'bankers' will go after you for the money owed. What are you going to do? X's uncle borrow money from his relatives. Now, when it comes to borrowing money, it's a very fragile and delicate situation and if not handled properly, it might ruin relationships and cause chaos.

Certainly, the desperate won't think of all this. All he needs is money to cover his ass. But X's uncle is unrepentant. He gambled again and doesn't work anymore. The 2nd round of borrowing money from relatives occurred. So is the 3rd and the 4th time. He even have the courage to cheat his mother of her hard earned savings.

He neglected his wife and children. His children were thin like bamboo sticks and his wife looked dishevelled. A sorry sight of a family which was once belong comfortably to the middle class.

My second friend W, himself is a compulsive gambler. He would visit Genting Highlands every week and gambles his ass off. More often than not, he would come down centless and he would go senseless by going up again the following week, which I think is quite fuck up. I really mean centless because the bottom line for him is not to lose that RM5 in order to pay the toll on the way back and he will lose it as well. In the end, his companion has to pay on behalf of him.
Not a rosy story about Genting Highlands huh.

My friend is of my age. He's still young and dynamic. I hope he change his ways before it's too late. He still has a bright future ahead of him. I just hope that he doesn't end up like my uncle who's in desperation, defrauded my grandfather of his cashcow electrical shops and ended up owing somemore.

So friends, whether it's Poker, Blackjack, Roulette, or even the Toto Jackpot, please exercise your discretion and control the urge of putting in more money when you're losing. God doesn't make life simple for you by just gambling, which is associated with the Underworld. It's hard work that pays.

My New Canon Ixus 100IS

Just bought my new camera, Canon Ixus 100IS last Friday. Never had the opportunity to really play with it since I'm busy with revision. What a relief after having to save for a year and she's really a classic beauty:)

My predicament when buying is to choose the colours. The colour ranges from Black, Silver, Gold Red. My eyes were set on the Gold and the Red. It's good that I can have both but I can only choose one. At last I chose the Red one for being outstanding.

Bought it for RM1050 and bought an extra battery for RM 170. After 3 years of living without a camera since my Pentax camera broke down, I regain life with my new Ixus 100IS. Haha!! Click! Click! Like Edison Chen;-)

Don't Stop Learning

Remember when you were young, your heart was like an open book. You were very curious about things. You have the strong desire to know about something and everything. You were inquisitive. You would ask tons and tons of questions. What, how, where, when, which and the list goes on. You would also pester your parents or guardians to tell you the same story or the same thing over and over again just to make sure you get it right. Am I right?

But as time marches on, you get older, you are matured, you have bigger responsibilities, you have work and family commitments and you have your mother-in-law, you tend to give excuses not to learn anymore. You think you have learnt enough. You think you have the wisdom. If you think like that, you are terribly wrong.

In the context of the so called concept of life long learning, there exists 3 types of people. The 1^st one is the “Know it all” type. He or she knows the in and out of the company he’s working for, the ways to solve a problem and practically he seems to know everything. This type of person as the category suggests is someone that we all agree that he or she is intelligent. Or is he? Because this type of person is often complacent with his skills and because of the ego that blinded him, he doesn’t ask questions, he thought he knew everything and therefore he stops learning. His skills will one day become redundant. That’s why he’ll be the first one to get retrenched.

The 2^nd type is “The Dumb” type. I apologize for the crude categorization. This type of person is someone that in the Malay language calls, Diam Cangkul. Unlike the first type, this doesn’t ask question as well, not because he knew everything, it’s he doesn’t know anything at all. And yet, he doesn’t want to open his mouth and ask. This is the typical Malaysian behavior. When it is question time, nobody asks even though they don’t understand a thing the lecturer had taught. After that, they complain about the lecturer doesn’t know how to teach.

The 3^rd type is like me, the student type. Although sometimes I fall within the 2^nd type, that’s another story for another day. This student type possesses a skill that will even surpass the knowledge and skills of the 1^st type. The skill is he keeps learning every single day. He asks and seeks answer in every single question that he has in mind. He improves himself everyday because he believes that the day he has reached his fullest potential is the day he has not. Because he still has today. He can only become better and better day after day.

In trying times such as the current economic downturn, it is of utmost importance that we adopt the 3^rd personality and we keep on improving ourselves because our boss can ask us to leave anytime, such as the recent CIMB Bank case of asking their employees to go on a 6 month unpaid leave as their staff rejuvenation initiative. Just imagine you’re the person being laid off just because you don’t have a MBA qualification even though you’ve contributed tremendously for the past 20 years. Someone’s going to hungry. Or for business owners, you may lose a client who is very important to the survival of the company if your proposal is not competitively tendered or if the ideas are outdated.

I too, am scared of losing my student which he is the means of my extra pocket money. I prayed every single day that his parents don’t lose business so that I can continue teaching him. Rather than solely relying on God, I did my part. I try my best teach him. I gave him treats. I play games with him. I even teach him simple public speaking skills. Speaking of Toastmasters at the age of 11. And guess what, his marks jumped up tremendously. From a fail in the English Paper last year 48%, he got a B this March Test. 76%. Give me a round of applause;)

It is praises and approvals I get from his parents. They’re very happy. Hence if you improve yourself and people see the change of something that is affecting them changing into the better, they’ll be appreciative and you’ll keep your job and your client.

And when times change for the better and the economy becomes bullish, guess who your boss will promote or give a pay rise? Guess who the client will come to if they need a service? You already have the answer in your mind. Thus you’ll be successful in your life.

Of course we all know that things don’t come easy to us but if we are willing to take one step at a time, just one step, our improvements will be great after 365 days. Remember, inch by inch, it’s a …… cinch. Of course, during the learning and improvement process, give yourself some credit. Treat yourself a meal after every improvement that you have achieved. And if you can find one positive thing in your life that no one can argue with, go from there. Expand from there.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is only you yourself that can bring about improvements in your life if you don’t stop learning. Learn, know and improve on every single change in your profession, family and of course life so that you’ll become a more holistic person. Stop procrastinating and don’t stop learning because the only limits in your life are the limits you put on yourself.

Earth Hour 2009 - Switch it off!!

Do something for our beloved Earth this coming Saturday, 29th March 2009. It's a very little deed the Earth is asking from you. Kindly switch off your lights for 1 hour, at 8:30 p.m.

During that 60 minutes of darkness, gather with your family and friends and say a prayer. If you're not that pious, maybe you can have candlelight dinner or even make love. Mark this historic day with something memorable. Vote Earth!

Go Travel

Mum, let’s go for a trip this holiday. “Son, can’t you see I’m trying to finish my work here, go ask daddy” Pa, let’s go to Pulau Redang. “I don’t have money, wait till next year”. Fellow readers, doesn’t that sound familiar to you?

Yes, many a time when the holiday season is coming, we’ll try to make tons of excuses not to go for a trip citing excuses like family commitments, monetary problems, work commitments and of course the classic, no time.

So when are you going to go? Are you going to wait till your children all grown up? Are you going to wait until you are too frail to walk? How do you climb up the Great Wall of China then? Or worse still, what if you are stricken by illness that makes you unable to travel? Are you going to wait till you become a millionaire? While you are dreaming or working on it, I would say why not enjoy at the same time as the saying goes work hard, play hard?

Matta Fair has come and gone and my parents have come to realize that they aren’t getting any younger and me and my brothers are in our 20s. We’ve surveyed the entire Putra World Trade Centre and we’re going to China during the holidays. Hah, what a relief after years of constant bugging and persuading them to travel. Fuh!

You may be wondering, facing with so many problems at hand, how do I find time to travel? The answer is simple, plan ahead. Let’s tackle the biggest problem of all which is money. Here’s how I as a student who don’t have a constant flow of income do it. I save a meager amount of RM100 a month. That makes RM 1200 a year. Not only can I have fun in Pulau Redang, I can go to Bali or Bangkok too with that money. Of course, flying in AirAsia. And I’m saving up as a student. I’m sure as working individuals you can do better than me.

But Robin, my boss would kill me if I take leave for so long. I’ve got tons of work in the office. I can say that if you are under the employment with such boss, get another job and work for another boss who could show compassion. Whether you’re going for a holiday or not, your boss will still strangle you anyway. Why not just go? He’ll kill you sooner if he sees you being unproductive because of stress for working too long without a break.

Of course, even if you’re the high flyer of the company, if you leave the company today, you’ll be replaced in a matter of days. It’s a sad and cruel reality that we have to face. I would say, why not treat ourselves better?

Robin, my son has tuition classes, taekwondo, piano, swimming and ballet lessons and my schedule is packed because of chauffeuring him through and fro. I’ve got a 3 year old daughter to take care of. Simple, go with the entire family. Huh? Just stop his lessons for a week and go. It’s that simple. It won’t make any difference if he misses a week of lessons. In fact, it’s do him good. If he knew of such rewards, he’ll try harder to excel in whatever he is doing. For the workaholic husband, ladies, men are easy creatures with simple minds. Use your instincts to handle them.

As for your daughter who is still young and if you’re worried, leave her to your parents. It’s that simple.

Ladies and Gentlemen, life is too short to be worried about everything. While we are still alive, let us take off some time to pamper ourselves by travelling with your family and friends. And of course memories of the trip are something money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s MasterCard.

I’ve signed up for a package at Matta Fair and I’m going to Macau this June, what about you?

Unfairness

I received a mail from a friend lately asking me for advice on how to solve the following problem
Here goes:

'''''''' Dear Robin,

How are you recently? I'm not doing so great here. Have you been to the Matta Fair? I'm actually in a huge predicament here.

I've signed up for a package tour to Taiwan during the fair. Because of my measly budget, I decided on a free and easy package and I'll navigate my way throughout the country with my girlfriend. Unbeknown to me, my mum had signed up a package to tour Europe with my younger sister, my elder brother and his girlfriend.

The issue is : They are going there in mid May, which I'm having my medical anatomy exams. How fair is that without consulting me? How fair is that to me? They are going by tour, traveling in a commercial airline. All paid by my mum. I'm forking out my own hard earned money and having to settle with AirAsia.

Apparently my younger sis is having her holidays during that time and my bro and gf can apply for leave for a week. I'm finishing my exams on the 5th of June and I'll have my 3 months summer holidays. Why can't they wait?

I've been very piss off with the events that transpired. I confronted my mum and only later promised to pay for my expenses to Taiwan. Walau yeh, it looks like my feelings is a commodity that can be traded. What I want is fair treatment, that's all. I don't need you to pay for my anything as I' m already forking out my own money anyway.

I'm also very disappointed with my sis (note that she's 21 years old, should know how to think). I've been chauffeuring her up and down from her University without fail every single week which my bro is unwilling to do. Actually, whatever we both ask also, my bro is always unwilling to help. I'm been so supportive as a bro to her in everything, always making attempts to help her in every way. She didn't even voice out to wait for me to finish my exams. She's starting her semester in June. Come on man, just a few days off the beginning of a semester.

Similarly, my bro of course didn't voice out too because it's none of his business. I've always been the helpful one and 4 years ago, I lent him a few thousands to start up a business which he does half heartedly and of course it went bust. I didn't even pester him so much to pay me back and 4 years passed, he still owes me a substantial amount of debt. Mind you, I'm only a student working my ass off for the money and he squandered it. I didn't even ask him to pay any interest accrued. What a shameful behaviour. It's shameful because he did this to me as a younger bro and it's shameful because he's an engineer now and it's shameful that my mum hardly intervene.

Robin, you tell me what to do.........''''''''''''''''''''


I've already responded privately to this poor friend of mine. What's your 2 cents?

Matta Fair 2009

It's on!! Visit Matta Fair @ PWTC , I mistakenly went to KL Convention Centre yesterday (lack of reading) .
Date : 13/3/2009 till 15/3/2009

Go travel around. Don't wait till you're old. Don't wait till next year.

Life is short. Therefore enjoy!!

Select a place of interest. Work your ass out towards the goal!! It's motivating in the midst of the doldrums of life.

Going to Macau soon. What about you?

The Beatles

The Beatles was introduced to me by my father at the tender age of seven. Of course there were a lot of kiddy musicians who sang kiddy songs I like back then but The Beatles struck a chord in me and I loved them ever since the first time I listened to them.

Life for me as a young boy was a bit eccentric because my preference of music is a bit old fashioned. I like oldies. Besides The Beatles, I have been listening to various yesteryears’ artistes such as Bee Gees and The Carpenters. Listening to Karen Carpenter singing is really magical and I thought she’s beautiful. My parents thought I was stuck in the 60s or 70s and some say 50s because I adored Elvis Presley as well. Watching Elvis dancing is really hilarious. It’s like having spasms ;)

Back to The Beatles. This little big group was formed in 1960 in Liverpool, England and comprises of 4 members namely John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Maybe it was their looks. Maybe it was luck. Maybe it’s the songs and their appeal to the rock n’ roll generation. Maybe the marketing technique worked. When these factors combined, Bang! You’ve got the most happening group in the world.

Not long after the formation, they had their number 1: Love Me Do. I believe many of you from that generation or maybe not from the generation are still singing this song whether it’s in your car or bathroom. My father for one still enjoys the song a lot.

With the collaboration of John and Paul as the group’s main songwriters, the success of reaching no.1 on the charts was repeated a lot of times, more than any musician whichever studio may produce. This is also due to the maverick management of the group by Brian Epstien. On one account, he confessed that he hired a lot of supporters, especially girls, during the early days of the Beatles to scream through the entire performance. Well, this technique worked and it created a new culture for the fans of any musical act. They scream like idiots all the way. The group has become more and more popular ever since.

However for any famous musician or musician who wants to be famous will tend to embroil themselves in controversies. During the visit to The Philippines, the nation’s first lady, Imelda Marcos invited them to a breakfast reception at the Residential Palace. It’s never their policy to accept any ‘official’ invitation. So, they declined. The whole Philippines erupted. They were forced out of the country and forced to return all profits made before they can board the plane home. On hindsight, I’m glad that they snubbed Mrs. Marcos after learning what Ferdinand Marcos did to his country.

And of course, any young man grappling with sudden fame will tend to boast. Forgive them. During an interview, John Lennon was of the opinion that Christianity was dying and The Beatles were more popular than Jesus. This comment resulted in a backlash throughout countries whose main religion is Christianity and the fans started burning their records.

I don’t know whether it was a marketing ploy or not. But these fans have to buy the records before they can burn them. I just know that they are regretting their actions now because a vintage vinyl record can sell for a lot of money now and even more if you have the whole set. I still have mine, my father didn’t burn it and I got to inherit it. But I do burn their albums. I burn them on CDs.

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a sad that good things don’t last forever. The group was disbanded because of internal fighting and there’s no chance of revival at all since John was killed by a fanatic in 1980.

Maybe these events made the group even more fabulous. The fans just can’t get enough of them, including yours truly. But every now and then when I needed to create an upbeat mood, I turned on the computer, click on The Beatles and started singing… All you need is love, love … love is all you need.

Inspired

I listened back to one of Michael Jackson's best oldies. I can't help but inspired and touched by the works of it. We really need such spiritual uplift especially in these current trying times. Whether you're black, white, red, yellow, Buddhist, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Hindu, or Muslim, WE ARE PART OF GOD's GREAT BIG FAMILY. So, stop fighting and get along with each other because everyone is everyone's neighbour.

We are the World - Written by Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie

There comes a time when we heed a certain call (Lionel Richie)
When the world must come together as one (Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder)
There are people dying (Stevie Wonder)
Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon)
The greatest gift of all (Paul Simon/Kenny Rogers)

We can't go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers)
That someone, somehow will soon make a change (James Ingram)
We're all a part of God's great big family (Tina Turner)
And the truth (Billy Joel)
You know love is all we need (Tina Turner/Billy Joel)

( CHORUS )
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Michael Jackson)
There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Diana Ross)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Michael Jackson/Diana Ross)

Well, send'em you your heart so they know that someone cares (Dionne Warwick)
And their lives will be stronger and free (Dionne Warwick/Willie Nelson)
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread (Willie Nelson)
And so we all must lend a helping hand (Al Jurreau)

( REPEAT CHORUS )
We are the world, we are the children (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Kenny Loggins)
There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Steve Perry from Journey)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Daryl Hall)

When you're down and out there seems no hope at all (Michael Jackson)
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall (Huey from Huey Lewis and the News)
Well, well, well, let's realize that a change can only come (Cyndi Lauper)
When we (Kim Carnes)
stand together as one (Kim Carnes/Cyndi Lauper/Huey Lewis)

(REPEAT CHORUS AND FADE )

First Sight

Gone are the days,
Where loneliness suffocates the fragile soul,
Making a heart vulnerable,
The uncertainties down the winding road,

Summer comes when thee pass by,
Life sprinkles to those who thirst for it,
Dismiss your fear, your sorrow and your sadness,
Whoever loved thee, not loved at first sight.....


Happy Valentine's Day
Robin

Parliamentary Democracy

My 7th speech at Toastmaster. I still feel that there's room for improvement. Something missing. Hmm............

Here goes:

Unlike what the Western world trying to portray, Parliamentary Democracy was not established on the pillars and cornerstone of equality and justice for the betterment of the world at large but rather an institutionalized class struggle between the aristocrats and the capitalists i.e. between the rich and the rich. Rather than to be cynical with the idea that has somehow worked all this while, I would rather see it as a system of check and balance.

History has told us that the notion of democracy was born and characterized as violent and to the extreme where heads get chopped off whenever there’s dissent or disagreement. But overtime this bunch of so called noblemen decided that it was better to spend time making money by robbing and killing the less civilized and primitive people around the world while injecting their ideals along the way.

Thus we have it: Parliamentary Democracy in our very own country. It worked in England where competing class of people watched each other like eagles waiting to pounce on its prey if the other side indulges in any dishonest behavior. It soon created a dynamic and prosperous society as we see today as they have managed a balancing act between the parties.

On the other hand, the same idea of Parliamentary Democracy was introduced by our colonial masters and copied blindly without conditioning it to suit our nature of society. Democracy here was never a balancing act. It has become more of a one party rule and overtime become more vicious than our colonial masters. As they say, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

When such power is allowed to billow in such an uncontrolled manner, all hell will break lose. Of late, the living condition in our country is governed with fear and violence. Efforts to stifle dissent at the cost of the country’s economy and well being was used by the ruling party without any fear of political repercussion and extra judicial recourse as this they say are only means to an end like the Machiavellian Prince who would do anything for his political survival.

The end result as we can see today are innocent people who are trying to earn a decent and honest living became victims to the crime wave and bureaucratic incompetence and people who risk the wrath of the system are either jailed, incriminated or simply disappear.

Yet the people hesitate for a change because they are so inured and adjusted to seeing brutality and violence such as the recent murder of Kugan by our police force. Yet the people hesitate for a change because we are to the accustomed to the arrogance and condescending attitude of the ruling class. And yet the people hesitate for a change because of our very own laidback and ‘tidak apa’ attitude.

Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come and the winds of change are sweeping across the globe especially the recent victory of Obama as the 44^th President of the United States. We, the people must come forward and meet those threats that demand even greater effort, greater cooperation and understanding between us.

We must step up and tell the corrupted that we will not waver in our defence in fighting for our children and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and violence against the people, we can now say to them that our spirit is stronger. They will not outlast us and we will defeat them.

To fight back and to make our Parliamentary Democracy work, it does require the support of the people to do the balancing act. As such, dissent is very much vital to democracy and essential building block of a free society. Whether you are voting, rapping, demonstrating, signing a petition, you’re exercising free speech, which is part of democracy. You are expressing dissent which as Thomas Jefferson once said, is the highest form of patriotism.

Kechara Oasis - New Age Vegetarian Cuisine @ Jaya 1

One of my Chinese New year 2009 experience was having lunch at a newly open vegetarian restaurant i.e. Kechara Oasis at Jaya 1, Jalan University, Petaling Jaya. Finely hidden in the carpark area, (opposite Overseas Restaurant), this vegetarian fine dining restaurant boasts a variety of really delicious vegetarian cuisines. Yes, the ones which will get you to jump over the wall. Also, it's a vast difference in taste compared to the vegetarian rice we eat out there.

My family and I together with my mum's friend for many years had vege satay, curry prawn, assam fish, Vietnamese roll and the killer, Buddha jump over the wall. A very fulfilling lunch indeed. The price? I don't know since it's been paid for;)

The Kechara Oasis interior design is beautifully architectured by someone I suppose poured his/her heart out with the intent to impress the diners especially. Kechara Oasis is also managed by a team of very dedicated staff spearheaded by Irene.

Overall, I would come to this restaurant again while recommending it to my friend and family along the way because the food is delicious & reasonably priced (I found out the price later) and for the fact that the restaurant is actually contributing part of its earnings to charity, helping the poor around the world.

Tel: 03-7968 1818 (Irene)

The Magnificent Buddha

Water

Rinpoche

Meditating

Chai

Magic lamp

Fulfilled looks

Happy Chinese New Year 2009

A fun and joyous Chinese New Year!! A good kickstart for the 2009!! All the best!!

Yee Sang

Ready??

GO!!

Savaged!!

Cow Wine

At Pek's

At Kechara

MOOOOO!!!!

Happy New Year!!

Happy Chinese New Year!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY FAMILY & FRIENDS!!!!

As We MooOooVe FrOm 2008tO 2009..MaY You HavE No WorriEsAnD MoRe FuN..DuN Let StReSS TriP You OvErAnD SpEnD MoRe TiMe WitH FaMiLyAnD FriEnDs..HaVe A GreaT NeW YeaR..!!

MAS Airlines

Horror flight on board MH161

Radhika Iyer-O'Sullivan | Jan 20, 09 3:55pm

I am a Malaysian currently residing and working in Dubai. On Dec 25, 2008, I flew with Malaysian Airlines flight MH161 to Kuala Lumpur to visit my parents. I was in seat 36H (an aisle seat) and the seat next to me, 36K (window seat) was vacant. The flight stopped over at Karachi for an hour. MCPX In Karachi, more passengers boarded the plane. One male passenger boarded, showed his boarding pass to a stewardess and she pointed to seat beside me (36K). The man looked at me and said, ‘She's a Hindu, I cannot sit beside her.’ The stewardess responded, ‘So what? What's wrong with Hindu?’ The man then began to yell and shout that he would not sit next to a Hindu. The crew insisted that he had to because there were no other seats available because the plane was full. Then this passenger sat down but began to verbally abuse my faith and the crew members. I sat in my seat but was physically cringing away from him. The flight supervisor was summoned and until then the man was still seated next to me. Imagine my shock, horror and fear in being next to a hostile, abusive person. One steward did stand next to me but did not offer any help and I did not feel safe or reassured. I reached out and told that steward that I did not feel safe anymore. I said this to him softly in English and he told me to sit and wait. He then walked off and a female crew member took his place. All this time I was under the impression that this hostile passenger beside me was a Pakistani. I then told the stewardess in Malay that this man should not be seated beside me after what he had said about me. There were other Malaysian passengers sitting in the same area and all of them heard me. She smiled and merely nodded. Finally, the flight supervisor, ‘SB’, approached the passenger and after an angry exchange, the passenger said, ‘Move her then!’ and SB replied, ‘Yes, we will move her’. More angry words were exchanged and it was revealed that the passenger was actually a Malaysian. When this news was revealed, the passenger actually stood up with his fists up, ready to be physically violent. I was then hauled out of my seat and taken to the back of the plane. I was kept in the kitchen. By this time I had gone into shock and was crying uncontrollably. I was shaking with rage because I was in a position where there was nothing I could do to defend myself. No one else seemed to be doing anything too. I could not see what was happening from the rear of the plane but I did see uniformed security personnel approaching my original seat. I could not hear or make out what was happening as there was a group of people standing around my original seat. Eventually, the group left and it was announced that the plane would be taking off. All this time I was in the kitchen, shaking and crying. All that was done for me was crew members taking turns to ask me if I was okay and offering me Coke and water! The plane began to taxi and I was then taken to another seat (42H). As I sat down, I asked the steward, ‘Is he off the plane?’ and the answer was, ‘No.’ I was appalled. After the plane took off, the flight supervisor, SB, came and sat beside me. He explained to me that they could not put him off the plane because he was a deportee and if they had insisted on putting him off, then the plane would not have been cleared for take off. I was still crying at this point. I asked, ‘Why am I in a different seat? He should be!’ but my question was not answered. The plane was not full. There were eight seats vacant in the rear, four on the right aisle and four seats on the left. Seat 42H, where I was put, was one of those vacant seats in the rear. If the MAS crew knew there was a deportee boarding, should they not have made arrangements to place him at the rear of the plane? What kind of airline policy allows a deportee to sit beside a female passenger travelling alone? I spent the next five and a half hours on the flight in tears. I was not able to sleep because I knew that a hostile passenger was only six rows down from me. I was not afraid but in rage. My friends who are reading this would know the kind of person I am. I have always stood up for my rights and for the rights of people whom I love. I would not usually tolerate such abuse and I would not have hesitated in defending myself. What stopped me was knowing that I was on a plane, in a confined space and that there were other passengers around me too, women and children. The abusive passenger was not removed from the plane and when we landed at KLIA, he disembarked like a normal passenger and was not escorted or arrested. I also disembarked knowing that I was now in the same terminal, on my own, as this hostile passenger. I am very disappointed with the way MAS dealt with the incident. That passenger should have been taken to the rear of the plane and restrained. I was the victim of the incident yet I lost my chosen seat that I had paid for. Apart from offers of water, Coke and some verbal reassurances, the crew did not do anything else for me. I have contacted other major airlines and this is how they would have dealt with the matter: I would have been moved to Business/First Class and I would have been escorted into the terminal until I safely exited the airport. MAS did not do anything for me. First of all, they jeopardised my safety and well-being by forcing the passenger to sit beside me knowing that he was hostile towards me and then they did nothing else to keep me safe. I was in the same cabin as that passenger, wondering if he was going to walk by or pass me. I spent the entire five and a half hours in tears because I could not stand up for my rights and also because I had to keep my own rage pent-up. Once I landed, I rang my husband in Dubai and related the events to him. He took immediate steps to contact MAS but to no avail. I stayed for one week in Malaysia and every single day, I tried to call their Customer Complaints Department. All I got was a voice mail. I left numerous messages but no one called me back. No one contacted my husband in Dubai. It is only after he put it up on the MAS blog that we have received some kind of response. Fourteen days after the incident, someone from MAS called me to offer an apology. My husband also received an email from someone who has offered me 25 percent discount on a return flight from KL to Dubai and actually referred to that abusive passenger as a ‘fellow customer’! She also clearly stated that measures taken were to prevent that passenger from getting angrier. So in other words, they do admit that. These are the questions I posed to MAS: Why force a passenger who is racially abusive and hostile to my appearance and faith to sit beside me? There were other seats available at the rear as I discovered later.This was not a passenger who was merely fussing about his seat, this was a passenger who was potentially a threat to another passenger. Why did the flight supervisor immediately give in to his demands and agree to move me? I was not the passenger causing trouble. Upon retrospect, I think I was lied to. I do not think the passenger was a deportee. It was a lie told to me to keep him on the plane and keep me quiet. If a lie was told, that means that the crew took measures to protect the hostile passenger and themselves but not me, the victim. If so, then the MAS crew perpetuated the racism and discrimination initiated by the passenger. If this is the case, then the entire crew participated in jeopardising my safety and appropriate action should be taken against them. If the passenger was truly a deportee or an INA (inadmissible because of visa) then the plane captain should have documents about him. If a deportee or INA caused trouble on a flight, the captain should have been informed immediately. Why was the captain not informed and if he was, why did he not come to see me? I have been informed that KLIA security had been called but there was no one waiting when the plane landed. The abusive passenger disembarked like any other normal passenger. Why was he not nabbed or restrained? Why did not the crew ensure my safety in the terminal too? I am demanding a formal, written apology from Malaysian Airlines. I want a truthful, reasonable explanation for all the five points I have listed above. I want some compensation for what I suffered. So far, I have only received an e-mail informing that the matter is under investigation. Maybe a terrorist madam.......moral........NEVER FLY ANY AIRLINE WHICH HAS NO RESPECT FOR THE PESSENGERS

Obama's Inaugural Address 20-1-2009

My fellow citizens,

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers ... our found fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

Pusat Tuisyen Martin

Today is a rather relaxed day. So do any other days previously since the new semester started. I better hit the panic button before it's too late. God help me!!!

After a 2 hour session with Dr. Simon Askey, the Deputy Director of the University of London External Programme, I had tuition with my student, Jun Yang at 4:30pm. He's an easy one because he possesses the ability to understand intellectually. I'm going to make him no.1 this 2009.

I drove back passing San Peng Road, where my maternal grandparents live. My grandpa has difficulty walking these few years. It's really disheartening to see him in this way. He looked dishevelled since his movements are restricted. On the other hand, my grandma has a stronger will to live. She suffered from a minor stroke that almost robbed her of her mobility a few years ago. By great will and courage, she managed to recover quickly and restored her health. She can still walk albeit slowly. She's touched by God.

I wanted to buy them something to eat. Today is a Saturday. They deserved to be with their families on weekends although the current circumstance is not in their favour. It's rather lonely for two old folks living by themselves and have nothing to look forward to. So, I decided to cheer them up.

I went to Pudu to buy myself a waffle cake. I love waffle cakes!!! I went to the sweet delicacy shop to buy egg tea and black sesame soup. As I drove past the shop, someone familiar quickly caught my eye. It's Mr. Kang. The Pusat Tuisyen Martin Maths teacher. he's also the student's favourite because he's very animated. I wanted to greet him and so I make a turn. Aiyah, he had walked the other way. Ceh!!

Just let it be. On the way to my grandparent's home, I saw Mr. Martin Lim, the headmaster of Pusat Tuisyen Martin. My mind flashed back 6 years ago and I can vividly recall the days as a student. I started having tuition at Pusat Tuisyen Martin since standard 6, that was 11 years ago. How time flew... I still remember Mr. Razazu who taught Physics and Chemistry; Mr. Azman who taught BM; Mr. Ganesan the funny man who taught English; Mr. Sivva the Sejarah teacher who's now in my college, ATC; etc etc.

It's a comforting thought that I can still see some old, familiar faces there. Even the Mat card collector is still there. These guys are great. My prayers will always be with you.

I reached San Peng Road. Took those delicacies and handed them to my grandparents. They were very happy of course. I could see their smiling faces flashing to me. It's the least I can do. How I wish I could I have enough money to house them in a more comfortable home with servants to attend to their requests and whims. The same thought goes to my parents as well.

God, please guide me along the way which I'm treading now. I don't want to wait till they're too old to taste the finer things in life on earth. Namo Amitabha.

Langkawi 2008

Haa....... My 3rd time in Langkawi. Needless to say, Langkawi is a beautiful island filled with beautiful women, lots of tobacco and booze at tax free rates. The only vice that i didn't notice is gambling. Or maybe i really didn't notice it because it's so well hidden. By the way, I'm going there to relax and enjoy;) And certainly lace my blood with a little Chivas and Malibu

Pictures say a million words. I'm too lazy to write for now. Here's Langkawi......

2008 Most Eligible Bachelors

Oriental Village

Black Sand Beach

Cable Car

Gang

Sea so vast....

Sun Boy

Increase your fertility in this Lake of the Pregnant Maiden

Bb's Parent's Bday

Ate dinner with bb's parents at Restaurant Overseas in 1Utama. Dinner was great and I'm very full!!

The Parents, her sis and bf, bb and I

Cake Cutting...I wish both of you happiness

Prosperity

And Good Health

Yummy!!

Barack Obama's Victory Speech

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House. And while she’s no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics – you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington – it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor’s bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House – a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

To be Educated in a National School?

I was educated in national schools since primary; Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan and thank God I’m not in any national universities although I did envy previously my friends who made it in. Not now, after having heard their predicaments. I don’t know about you but I like attending school. However, I wouldn’t recommend anyone here to send your children to a national school, at least not in the primary level. Here’s why:

My childhood days in the national school were fun. Yes! It was really hilarious. My friends and I would be running around, chatter, play pranks on the teachers, and made noise all day and all year round. There wasn’t any teacher around to discipline us. They were always absent by reason of … attending courses. Never in my primary school days existed caning and ear squat, just giggles and laughing. Unlike at home, if I behave like a monkey, my sorry buttocks would be very painful.

Ladies and gentlemen, what was your favourite subject in school? …. For me, I love all the subjects because there were no teachers around. But to be fair, they did come in once in a while and asked us to do our own things. Cool huh? We would be playing Risk – a strategy based board game, bottle caps or bingo. No scrabbles please; our brains were not conditioned to play that gameJ

To sum up the entire above, yes, the teachers were lazy. It’s a national school practice. Thus, the products they churn out are also pathetic. Luckily I’m one of the few exceptions. It has been a culture to move things very slow in national schools. The teachers would not teach anything throughout the whole academic year but hope that the students will understand everything when they force the entire textbook down our throats 2 months before the finals. If I’ve not been attending tuition, I would have slept off in the class. Therefore, I pity those children whose parents by one reason or another not giving much attention to their studies and left them to fend for themselves at school. That’s just not going to work unless the child is a genius provided they’re not prostituting themselves later.

To be honest, I would like to be educated in a national Chinese school. At least I will get to learn another language. A language of my origins. The culture in Chinese based schools is totally different. They give their students homework every single day so as to train them to be diligent, they instil great moral values in a creative way so as to train them to be responsible civilians and most importantly these are the people who contribute tremendously to our country well being.

As an adult now, I realize that I lose out a lot by not understanding the language that should be my mother tongue. Besides my Chinese name, I couldn’t even read a word of Chinese. Living in a globalise world today, I know the usage of the language is beyond my imagination. By not understanding Chinese, I fail to understand the Chinese culture; by not understanding Chinese, I fail to understand my origins; by not understanding Chinese, I won’t lose any business in Malaysia, but in Taiwan and China, if I don’t speak Chinese, I’m going to face a lot of problems. Most importantly by not understanding Chinese, I won’t know what I could be missing out. And the sad part is, my friends are labelling me Banana. Actually I’m not offended by the tease and in fact I’m flattered that they recognize my manhood;)

However, I like to look on the bright side of things. At least I can conquer the English language and I had a beautiful childhood as a naughty boy. But if you ask me where would I send my children for studies 10 or 15 years down the road, it would be Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina.

My Medical Card

My mum just bought me a medical card last week. Thanks mum for the concern.

What I'm trying to iterate here is financial planning. I never had this awareness till I met with someone I love and as days went by, I knew my responsibilities are getting heavier and heavier. The awareness truly struck me when I started to notice my loved ones around me are not getting any younger and their health began to deteriorate. Nevertheless it would not be a problem if the most crucial thing is properly planned ie your financial health.

The first step before buying any full blown insurance would be a medical card. Minus all the possibilities of getting a chronic illness (since I'm so young), some unforeseen circumstances may arise such as dengue fever, accidents, sprains, etc. Getting struck by these unfortunate incidents are already very stressful and time consuming, therefore a well planned financial health would alleviate you of the stress. At least the money part.

What i don't understand is why some people are so stubborn and narrow minded about these things. The little insurance my mum bought for me is just for rainy days. I don't want to claim it. (Means I'm very healthy) I think spending a little money to negate a disaster is wise and prudent. If cash is used to pay medical bills when we can use it for other purposes such as investments would be a very foolish move. As the Chinese saying goes, "If we are too stingy to spend a little money on necessaries, big fortune will not come to us". This rings very true because when the medical bills are taken care of, we can fight again with the available cash in hand as we recuperate.

For my friends who are reading this, find some day, sit down and plan your finance. At least for yourself so that you won't burden your family in the event anything happens to you;)

Vice President Membership!!

I was elected unanimously by the Exco members to become the new Vice President Membership of the ITC Bintang Toastmasters Club on the evening of 15th Oct 2008. It came to me as a surprise and I was reluctant to hold the position. I wanted to do my best as a Secretary this 2008/2009 term and receive a good appraisal by the end of the term before relinquishing the position and contest for a new one.

Another reason is that I've just started http://itcbintang.blogspot.com and I'm reluctant to hand it down to anyone because I'm afraid that it might end up with a lot of cobwebs. It's my love,hehe. I'm reluctant to hand down something that I've personally nurture with my own initiative and time just like that. Maybe it's only 3 months old, but it's colourful and lively.

If it's a salaried position I wouldn't mind. I would go all hell out. But this is something arise from interest. Like a hobby, it takes time to develop and I don't mind taking the time to learn step by step.

I can't do anything but to accept the position. It might not be a bad thing afterall. I just need more time to adjust. Hope I can do my best!!

ITC Outing at Neway Karaoke

It was last Saturday, 4th Oct 2008, Lily Chee organised a Karaoke session at Neway, Galaxie (opposite IOI Mall), a kind of fellowship for the ITC Bintang Toastmasters Club. The food was mediocre but the singing rendition was SPLENDID!! (Should I put a pair of inverted commas above the word?)

We had an excellent time over there singing our hearts out and alleviating the tension and stressfulness of our everyday life. I'm looking forward to another outing like this. Maybe ITC Bintang Idol perhaps;)

Bb singing

Ba ba Black sheep, have you any wool?

Hehehe

After Singing

Say Cheese!!

Tamagotchi

Recently I took out my Tamagotchi because my bb told me that she wants to play with it. Luckily I took out the batteries last time, if not the IC will be spoilt.

I bought new batteries and reactivated the toy. I waited and waited. The egg wouldn't hatch!! Sigh............... I think it's spoilt. For 10 days, the egg is still jumping up and down:(

Nevertheless, it symbolizes a chapter of my childhood. I used to feed 'it' till it's fat and when it died, it died a happy chicken, went to heaven and had a halo;) Of course I do experiment with not feeding it. It died and became a ghost.

For those who had a Tamagotchi, I think we had a great childhood huh;) hehe.....

The Law Firm

As the above title suggests, I worked in this medium-sized law firm for approximately 2 months and a half. Situated in Menara Tun Razak, Jalan Raja Laut, the firm boasts a team of 5 dynamic Partners and a hardworking workforce which is headed by the sassy and tactful Boss, YM Chin who leads the firm to become one of the most formidable firms in the country.

I have to admit that I learnt a lot from each of every one in the firm. In work sense, I have a clear overview of how a law firm should run. A lot of intricacies involved and someone told me that I have to love the job or else I would not survive in the Law profession. Indeed. The first month proved to be a pain in the groin for me. Not because of work overload but there was practically nothing for me to do. Haha!! Like makan gaji buta only. Even my friend have this similar issue which is driving him nuts. Haha!! It's a real joke.

Of course, all good things come for someone with patience (Please take the maxim according to situation, hehe, because if you are going after a beautiful girl, you just have to be quick as a predator or else you'll lose her) The work only came in the 2nd month. But if you ask me, it's better than sitting at home.

Besides works in the firm per se, I have to tackle everyday issues intelligently with the help of my friends there. Over time, I have become a wiser man than I was before an employee of the firm. You just need an older person to advise you along the way and I'm lucky to have met such person. I should say persons.

Yea, I was reluctant to leave on the last day but there's nothing I can do. Time passes by and the only thing I can do is to come back to visit them with glory when I get my good Part 1 results next year. Till then, wish me luck!

Smile;)

The nauseating clock

Clocking out for the last time

Rabbit - Rest in Peace..............

Date : 2nd March 2003 - 30th August 2008

Time of Death : 2:25 am

It was a very heartbreaking day for me that Saturday. One week after Mon Mon died, Rabbit followed suit. Maybe he was lonely. Maybe he was too sad. Maybe he was old and it's time to go. Sigh. I couldn't write about him when he died 3 weeks ago because I just can't. Trying to avoid it. But finally I gathered enough strength to move on as time really heals all wounds.

He was a cute thing, accompanied me through the 5 illustrious years. Here are the pictures of him:

With his friend, Mon Mon

Finding Mon Mon

Baby Rabbit

Foot On Rabbit

Red Eyed

Sniffin'

Caged

- Rest in Peace -

Mongkok Cha Chan Teng

31st Aug 2008 - After watching the 51st Merdeka fireworks on the roadside heading to The Curve, me and bb decided to go to SS2 for supper. I was in the mood to eat something because i was too stressed out the days before.

Located opposite BHPetrol station, Mongkok Cha Chan Teng is strategically located at the junction of the main road.

We've tried the following, something unusual because I always call for Cheese baked rice and Ice Milk Tea whenever i go to such Hong Kong styled restaurants:

Curry Fish Ball - The gravy is made of thick Marmite sauce, chilli and onions

Waffle Cake - My Favourite snack

Sour Plum Juice

Chi - Chaksss

A Taste of Old Times

Mooncake Festival has just over but the taste of the good old mooncake still lingered on my tastebuds. Assuming that you know the origin of the festival ie the legend of Chang Er, I now present to you the tastiest mooncake brand that I've ever tasted. Yummy!!

A standing ovation for Fai Fong Bakery!!!!!!

The fillings, be it lotus paste or red bean are very very scrumptious!! You have to taste it on your own to know what i mean...... Yum Yum!!





I don't mind to do free advertising for them. They can be reached at:

Batu Arang (HQ)
F1784, Jalan Besar,
Batu Arang,
48100 Selangor.
Tel: 603 - 6035 2331

Kepong Branch
A-G-2A, Jalan Metro Perdana 2,
Taman Usahawan Kepong,
Kepong Utara,
52100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 603 - 6252 2292

16th SEPT 2008

NOTHING Happened!! No change in government yet............

XXXstacy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After a long anticipation, I've passed my Intermediate Examination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YYYYUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!


For University of London external students, here's the site:
http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/examresults/findresults.do

Rest in Peace, My Dear Mon Mon

August 21st 2008 - Thursday - 2200

It was a sad day. My cute pet rabbit Mon Mon had died. I could not accept it but the dead is dead, no matter how hard I try, he'll not come back to life and curiously smell my leg again..... Sigh..... All I can do is to wish him a smooth journey ahead and may he grow fat in Heaven because there'll be a stream of carrot juice waiting for him, a female bunny since he has not mate while he's alive, lots of food, a large playground and a comfortable hutch for him.

Or if he chooses to reincarnate, I hope God would be kind enough to him to let him be a human being, born in a financially stable and cultured family. That's all I would wish him. In the meantime, I do a 7 day mourning period and light candles and incense for him at 10pm, the time he passed away.

It was hard for me for the first 3 days but I've learnt to accept it. I have to get on with my life. Let him be a good memory for me to ponder back later in life.

Mon Mon Rest in Peace......................................

Isn't he cute?

Baby Mon

At the Vet - Mon in Basket

His cage

Kissing..Muacks Muacks!!

A Day at the Photo Studio 2

Here are the few selected pics, finally:

The Handsome Me...

Elegant Black

Crystal Clear

I like this one:)

With Bear Bear

My 3rd Speech

Yes, that's the speech I made at ITC Bintang Toastmasters Club that gather every alternate Wednesday at Federal Hotel, KL. I talked about my day at the photo studio with my bb... I admit that I'm still nervous and still depended on my notes to give out the speech although it should come naturally since it's my personal experience. Anyway, I still have a long way to go and preparation is the key to success!!

Delivering my speech: A Day at the Photo Studio

My Evaluator - Melvin Tham

I made them stand up and pose for this picture:)

One Noodle Restaurant

July 14th 2008 was my and my bb's 2nd Anniversary. We celebrated this milestone at One Noodle Restaurant at Desa Park City. The food was marvellous!! Below are the pics:

What can I say...These balls are good

Ice blended Honeydew + Whip cream

Some lotus paste inside. You'll eat in during dessert time in Chinese weddings

Their specialty...Noodles(Yummy!!)

One Noodle @ Desa Park City

Nostalgia

I was rummaging through my pile of trousers the other day and wanted to get rid of my old belt as I got myself a new one. (Matsuda's the brand) It's already 9 years since i bought it and I stop using it 4 years ago.

Suddenly, my head was filled with events that happened in the yesteryears when I was in Victoria Institution as I looked at the belt. Yes, that's the belt I wore when I was in Form 1. As I was thinking about them, I smiled to myself. Oh, how the years had gone. A lot of things I've done and that helped me shape the man I am today. Some useful, some foolish, some good, some bad, some funny, some sad and most of them, happy.

I relate it to an old friend of mind, Pek Lean and we start talking about how we went after girls. We were quite foolish at those times. So many girls we sat our eyes after but none of our pursuit were successful. We weren't serious back then. Puppy love, perhaps. The scenario is different now as our priorities changed as we grow up and chartering our paths to success.

Cherish the every minute you have now and you shall ponder back at some point of your life later with a broad smile on your face.

Peacekeeper or political goons?

I woke up early and have to leave home early today because mum is using my car to fetch grandma to HUKM. I took my own sweet time which I usually do; bathe, brush my teeth, dress up and had my breakfast.

I left home at 7:35 am. I don't want to be late for work. Never want to. I'm trying hard to shed away the habit of procrastination which I acquired during secondary school days because of the lack of motivation and sheer laziness. I admit that it is hard to do away a habit that I've been practicing for years but life does not only evolves around me and people do really will change if the circumstance forces them to or they have reach an age where they have to shoulder heavier responsibilities.

While walking on the way to the LRT station, I witnessed a traffic congestion along the main road. People queuing 200 metres away would be thinking, "Someone better be dying!" They kept swearing to themselves because they don't want their children to listen to it. But some 'cool' beings indoctrinate foul mouths into their children so that they could use those words to screw the present government. No, it's not an accident 200 metres ahead. No, there is no car breakdown. It's a police roadblock.

@#$%$%#%%** (I told you I'd be censoring myself). They converted a 2-lane road into a single lane on a bloody Monday morning at Pandan Jaya where all cars from Pandan Indah, Kampung Pandan, Pandan Perdana, Taman Lembah Maju, Taman Seraya, Taman Muda bla bla bla are converging into the road to access into the bloody city centre. &(&*%&*$***. Screw you!!! The taxpayers' money is wasted on roadblocks because the bloody government doesn't like its adversary. I've been trapped in these stupid roadblocks since Saturday. When I was coming home from Kepong yesterday, I was bloody frustrated because I was at 500 metres away from the block. Like always, these 'dungu police' converted a heavily congested road in Metro Prima from a 3 lane road into a single lane. I waited for 30 minutes. @$$&^%I#$** I want a rebate for the petrol lost!!!!! By the way, doesn't the petrol price hike affect those 'people' in blue?

When I saw the news, the so called minister Syed Hamid ( no idea what is he made of) said that it is for the people's safety. Tiu!! (oops). The Opposition wanted to table a motion only ma. Cool la. Let the democratic process take its course. If there ain't shit in your pants, what are you quivering for?

Today is not the best day to start the week and I hope for the current opposition to give them hell and eventually kick them out from ruling the country. Malaysia is not the place for those shitbags to rape. Zimbabwe is and their 5 billion notes look like 'hell notes' to me ;)

Escape to Pulau Perhentian

Finally, after months of planning this trip, it materialized in the end..

Needless to say, a picture paints a thousand words. Folks, here's paradise for you;)

A Day at the Photo Studio

It's my first time visiting a photo studio. Nothing grand, i just lost RM900 in the process. But it's was a life enriching experience. Learn lots of things about posing. Haha!! Now I know how to lose my double chin on the camera;)

It's also my first time since kindergarten that the filthy make-up powder was applied on my face. My bb and I arrived at Ivory Romance, Jalan Loke Yew at 11am today. Started to change and make-up applied. We tried 4 types of clothes during the photoshoot and it was terribly tiring. I slept on the couch during the 4th changing waiting for the hairstylists to fix bb's hair and another soon to be wedded couple to finish. There's only 2 photographers on the premise.

I notice something different in bb during the photoshoot. She looked helplessly beautiful and I can't stop staring at her. Sexy in a way, enchanting in another. Felt like kissing her from head to toe. Muacks!!

Wanna look at the photos?

Wait la, still in the process. I myself also not yet look at them. In about a month's time I think or so they told me. Bb and I were taking these photos to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. This July 14th.

For couples out there, do try to achieve the above. If you say it's expensive, it won't be if you save RM1.00 a day. That's just exactly what bb and I were doing all these while. After all, the memory it serves worth more than the ringgit in your pocket which will depreciate overtime. The time we've spent and the physical photo album we got will etch its way into our hearts forever........

Kempen Maki Hamun Bodohwi

As polite and civilized the person I am, my abhorrance towards the present government and prime minister had reach beyond the boiling point when they announced that the gas price is going up on the 5th June 2008 by 78 sen from RM1.92/l to RM2.70/l and this is when I started swearing. PuKiMak Badawi!!!!!!!!

Fuck man,,life is already difficult under the incompetent self wanking barisan government and they just can't stop sucking the living daylight of the citizens. When my friend sms me telling me to pump up petrol before midnight, i just dismissed it as just another rumour because last week this similar rumour was spreaded. When I look at China Press night edition, my worst nightmare had come true. (though i don't know Mandarin much, I asked what's the 78 something. Tiu lo, dunno Mandarin) Bahalul Badawi!!!!!!!!

Then, the next thing I thought of is how to ubah gaya hidup when I already tried my very best to cut my expenses. Take food for instance, the mixed rice I always eat had gone up RM0.50 from RM4.00 to RM4.50 for the same portion I took just last month. Ma Hai, now petrol fuck up 78 sen, the tauke sure raise it by 80 sen one. Mother fucker Badawi!!!!!

Again I was thinking that the real profitting organizations from this price hike is the oil companies. Petronas is getting a huge chunk of the billions from sucking crude oil that should belong to the people. These smart asses use the money to finance their fuck up families, their gau hai(cow cunt) cronies, their chu lan(pig dick), their chi bai philharmonic orchestra, their tiu nia ma formula one, their dickhead astronaut and many many chau hai projects that does not benefit the people. Chi bai head Badawi!!!!!!!!!

Bodohwi, Lim peh ka li kong, Don't play play with our economy like Robert Mugabe. Ladies and gentlemen, what does the people of Zimbabwe use before they use candles?

Answer : Electricity

(Due to their more than 1 million per cent inflation)

Hoi, Pundek Badawi, if you do not know how to handle the country, get lost!! Don't just sleep, You STINK mother fucker!!!

Saya sebagai rakyat Malaysia yang patriotik ingin sangat mencarut apabila saya terjumpa muka sial pm kita. Tak layak sungguh muka tahi anjing ini memerintah negara. Negara kita mempunyai rakyat seramai lebih kurang 26 juta dan lan ciao ini menjadi pm.

Umno oh Umno, macam mana korang undi dia,

Macam mana aku tak undi, duit sudah masuk poket.

Sigh!!! This is my first post since I rested for a few weeks preparing for my exam(Just an excuse actually, I was lazy) and I'm swearing like that. Tak gentleman betul. Kelakuan macam samseng. Ya lah tu, samseng pun manusia juga. Harga minyak naik macam kotek terkena viagra, siapa tak panas.

This is the only one of a kind writing that I'll post. Till the next oil price hike, I won't be swearing in my writing. Please excuse me. But I give you the legitimacy to screw that shithead kau kau in your blog, in coffeeshop, in toilet etc because of the hardship 'it' caused us.

Rest For A Moment

Dear readers,,, I'm having an off period till I finish my exams in June.

Till then, wish me luck ;)

Goodbye Sam

I've found this video featuring 2 very talented local actors... Have a good laugh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbBHNRs-yRw