308...First Anniversary

And no, I am not talking about that French car.

Well, it has been 365 days since that special day. The day when I was totally surprise by the outcome of the 12th general election of Malaysia. The day when a new hopes are born, the day when I hope that the corrupt and selfish politicians would learn their lessons. I really hoped that that special day would bring on a new beginning to the end for politicians (specifically speaking UMNO and Barisan Nasional) who thrive on corruptions and only care about enriching themselves

365 days later, (well technically speaking, it should be 366 days later), do I see and change in how the country is run, how those corrupt and selfish peoples are brought down, one by one, how transparency and meritocracy prevails to move Malaysia forward?

Sadly, I am really really disappointed.

Those in power before 8 March 2008 are still there. The recent and ongoing Perak political fiasco still confirms that everything is still under the control of the Federal Government. They can still command the police, the government servant and most pathetically, the judiciary at their whims. Maybe even the royalties. The re-brand Anti Corruption Agency (now with a longer name) is still more interested in Cows and Cars and still headed by the same guy. The Election Commission is still perceived as pro-BN. The 2 Bukit and 1 Batang by-elections are to be held on the same day, when the Federal oppositions cry out foul.

I am astounded that UMNO sees that with Najib in as their new chief later this month, everything would be okay. They are still that arrogant. They kept on harping about their party will be weaken by money politics, but no actions are taken. Race and religious are still being use as their trump card. The Malays special rights (whatever that are) are still being paraded around like some magic word. UMNO nowadays even have the balls to say they are the defender of the Kings. Parliament is still a joke. The name calling and hecklings are still part and parcel of each sitting. Lame and biased laws are still being pushed and rushed through, without much opposition.

In Penang, do I see anything different? Our Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, brings in the Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) tagline. Ya, I agree that maybe the local UMNO warlords are no longer able to enrich themselves further. But to the layman like me, I don’t really see much different. The positive, streets are now much cleaner. We can see MPPP workers (bless them) working very hard to clean up after every event. And that might be just about it.

The negatives, crimes are now definitely more rampant. Snatch thieves are now more common than seeing our elected YBs. The Penang government is still harping on Federal funds to run the country. Come on la, this is Penang, maybe the most developed and independent of all the Malaysian states. Super expensive housing developments are still going on, even on hill slopes. Chief Minister Lim, frankly speaking, I don’t see much different yet. Except maybe the satisfaction that BN had their asses kicked last round.

By the way, I am still waiting for YB Rayers and YB Danny Law to fulfill their election pledge to abolish the Penang Bridge toll.

For the federal oppositions, this might be your last chance to prove that you can effect change. I strongly believe, the Malays, will regret being so heavy handed last GE. They just wanted to teach UMNO a lesson, never to bring in so many oppositions into the Parliament. They will never repeat this again. And 3rd March will never happen again.

Bukit Genting, Penang - February 2009

V day 2009. Got an invites to have dinner at Bukit Genting Thai Restaurant. My second trip there. My first trip was maybe two years back. The food served on that day didnt rank that high.

To get to Bukit Genting, we use the road from the airport, heading to Balik Pulau. You cant miss the huge signboard when you reach the place on your left.

Because of V day, all the tables are marked reserved. Get the staff to set up a table for us. By the time our food is served, the place is pack. But when we are leaving, some of the reserved tables are still not used, while there a lots of those who did not reserve just have to stand there waiting for occupied tables to clear up.

Green Curry Chicken.

Too much green, too little chicken.

Kheng Som.

The super spicy sweet and sour soup dish. We asked the waiter, can we make it less spicy. With a grin, he says no. But the dish is too watery, maybe a way to cut down on the spiciness.

Still have fond memory of the first time I tried this dish, in Hatyai, Thailand. Resulted in me needing to go to the toilet the whole next day :)

Meat in Crab Shell. I thought it is crab meat, but my frens say its chicken.

Fried 'Kangkong'.

Total price RM70 over four four person, including a bowl of rice for everybody and a jug of drink.

Its is hazy on that day. That yearly present from our neighbour in the west. But the wind is really blowing. Cool breeze. Really makes me sleepy.

The sunset around 7.00pm is not really visible from our table.

The setting sun is really red in colour.

Well, at the end of the day, I will still say there is nothing to shout about the food a Bukit Genting. Standard (and quite expensive) Thai food. Will I return, maybe, if I need somewhere 'romantic' to go to, but specifically for the food, no.

Focus. Must Focus

Focus..... should I.... shouldn't I!!!!!

Decision, decision.

Pulau Aman - Jan 2009

I have heard about Pulau Aman, a set of twin islands just off Seberang Perai back in the year 2000. It has taken me about than 9 years just to explore this part of Penang.

To reach the islands, a short ferry ride (RM6.00 round trip) is needed. The ferry terminal used to be at Tambun, not has now been relocated to Batu Musang at Batu Kawan. Just head towards the "white elephant' Penang Batu Kawan State stadium and go straight all the way. You will need to go over a hill to reach the recently built ferry terminals.

Pulau Aman is a small traditional Malay fishing village, more famous for a paradise for anglers than anything else.

Fishing boats dominates the arrival jetty on the island.

"The missing anglers".

*picture heavily enhanced

Theres actually nothing much to do here if you are not into fishing. The jungle tracking trails are quite abandon and tonnes of garbage drifted to the beaches and seashores. Stupid visitors who littered the jungle trails and beaches with styrofoam containers makes me sad.

The mee udang sold on the island's restaurant is among the other things highly recommended here. I asked the makcik manning the restaurant, what else are famous there besides the mee udang. Her answer "nasi udang, kuey teow udang, semua udang" :)

The mee udang tasted good, but not really spectacular. My humble opinion, nott really worth the price (around RM7.00 including my drink). This is, of course not including the price for the boat ride. Believe better mee udang/ketam at Perkampungan Juru.

When we are there, the cool sea breeze is really blowing. Relatively unpolluted compared to the seabreezes near Weld Quay or on the Penang Bridge. Nice place to relax and unwind. I wish I had a hammock, and a place to take a relaxing nap.



Not a worry in the world. A simple life. I envy them. But the again, these kids dont have a DSLR :) hihi

2009, for better or worse... WELCOME

A new year begins today.

Dont know what to write. Dont want to write.

Just wanna wish everybody a Happy and Prosperous new year ahead. Tough it out and we will emerge victorious again.

I want a Bangsa Malaysia

There is an old Malay saying “Gajah depan mata tak nampak, kuman seberang laut nampak”.

Shahrir Samad was quoted yesterday as saying “it did not make sense to ask those who were strong to reduce their strength for the purpose of having a so-called level playing field.”

I though this was always the BN, opps ...UMNO’s goverment’s policy.

I don’t know about you but I always feel the level and quality of our education system, from primary up to the universities was brought down, so that more Bumiputras can graduate.

Malaysian local universities are already known as ‘graduate churning factories’. Quantity over quality. Then they complaint about graduates not having soft skills, no able to speak English, no confidence. And when it is reported that there are lots of unemployed graduates, they burnt more moneys to have more trainings for these unemployable graduates. And when that also fails, they do another stupid thing. Recruit them into the public service. Then they complaint about the ineffecient public service.

Ask any teachers, they will tell you how public exams are getting easier by the year. Why? My opinion is so that the non Malays will not get smarter and the Malays will think they are smarter.

Then theres the NEP. The strength of the non Malays in business are weakened in the name of helping the Malaysa. What about that? Isnt it true that goverment contracts are deliberately not given to non bumiputras so that they wont grow so much. Isnt this the same thing?

But those are my thought.

But back to Shahrir’s comment.

They are not asking UMNO to weaken itself. They are just asking UMNO to stop being a fool. No more 'bodoh-sombong' attitute. Why must we accept 'ketuanan UMNO'? Because non Malays are second class citizens here in Malaysia? We are asking for a genuine partnership. A partnership where not everything you say is right and what everybody else says is wrong if you dont agree to it. We dont want your scraps. We dont want your leftovers. Accept that BN's component parties weaknesses is a direct result from UMNO's strength.

Accept that. And there will be a hope for a real bangsa Malaysia.

UMNO Cheras Head's Ho Liau Equations

Well, according to this fellow Syed Ali Al Habshee, the Cheras Umno division head;

Suing Utusan Malaysia = Challenging honour of Malay (because Utusan is owned by Malays)

Challenging honour of Malay = Challenging UMNO.

Questioning the azan = questioning the honours of Malay and Islam.

He was commenting about the RM30Million defamation suit filed by Teresa Kok againts Utusan Malaysia for reporting something that even the affected party, a mosque in Puchong, denied Teresa was involved with.

Wah, like this also can ah?

The guy also started a fund for Utusan to fight the suit. He also ask others to donate to the fund. Maybe can also la. Since those UMNOputras have so much money, they should start collecting the RM30Million now. After all a slander is a 'fitnah'. Unless our 'independent' judiciary acts up funny again.

How ironic, the guy was talking about Islam and honours, but would blindy support a lie, because to him, UMNO and Malays are untouchables in this country of ours. Its their holy right, they wanna tell a lie which resulted in a person arrested under the ISA also can, don't question!

Like they say, kalau tak suka, keluar dari sini!