Dr Wan Azizah and Anwar at this afternoon’s press conference where she announced her resignation as MP of Permatang Pauh. — Picture by Choo Choy May (The Malaysian Insider)
"In the wake of rumours on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s imminent arrest, his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail today resigned as Permatang Pauh MP to make way for him to contest in a by-election." This is from The Malaysian Insider.
I have posted on June 11 HERE giving 4 reasons for his choice. This was what I wrote:
Annuar Ibrahim is hinting that he will strike while the iron is hot. And it is now very hot! Adding petrol to the fire...Literally! There will be a two-prong attack. Their timing is the big question. When is Anwar going into the Parliament? When is Pakatan going to take over the Government? These are the two obvious questions.
Anwar had said recently that when (not if) Pakatan Rakyat forms the new government fuel prices would definitely cut; and he would resign, if he did not keep his words. Anyone against his idea? I think only the VIPs and VVIPs of Umnoputras and BN component leaders are against this idea.
The question is not "will he?" but "when?". Before September 16?
I think Anwar is going to strike very soon with his target for the MP first. I think most probably he will go for Permatang Pauh for the following reasons:
1. He wants to come back with a LOUD BANG! What better way to do it; of course Permatang Pauh.
2. This will show that he goes back to his own people.
3. No other present PKR incumbent MP needs to vacate.
4. Wifey can take a deserving rest.You see? It's a win-win-win-win scenario!!
So realistic and beautiful I thought I must share with all of you.
I chanced upon this beautiful piece of oil painting...so realistic I first thought it was a photo, until I read the artist's comment:
"Tropical fruits original oil painting by Wizan Zaini. This is one of my firsts oil painting. I sold few pieces (padi field landscape) to my friend. Arrgg! I dont have the photo and maybe one day I will visit him and take some photos of the painting. I started with watercolor (painting) then tried the oil in 2006. Actually I am an online designer since 1999. Today, I work less on graphic logo design (logowaves.com) as I have a team to do the job.Sorry! I don't have many oil to show here. If you want to see watercolor, I will have it here soon so please come back. This Tropical Fruits is now hanged on the wall in my dining area. No frame.. still on its home made stretcher. "
The Star reported that fuel price may drop soon. Two immediate questions:
1. When?
2. By how much?
Well, at least one good news in a sea of trash and corruption and mismanagement and what have you in the newspapers. Scandal after scandal, never get solved, and keep on increasing by the day! "RM100mil police logistics scandal: the delivery of sub-standard equipment", on front page of the Star to-day.
Where are we heading. I was just reminded by one Dr blogger that when the fish starts to rot, it starts with the head. Logically, when we see the whole nation rotting, it must have started from the head!
“When we talk about Malay or Muslim unity, I must stress that it is not exclusive. It is not at the expense of non-Muslims,” Najib said when asked to comment on the proposal by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat for Umno and PAS to dissolve and form a united Muslim party. This was reported in the Star today.
This is not straight talk, nor even double speak. This is speaking with "trident" tongue. How can it not be exclusive when you talk about exclusively "Malay or Muslim unity"? Where is the transperancy if it is "not at the expense of non-Muslims"? Hey! What happen to the other BN component parties? Where is MCA, MIC and Gerakan (if it's still around)?
By the way how can it be possible for PAS and UMNO to be "adik beradik", where you can see the battle line being drawn in the kampungs. You have mosques where PAS members will never attend, and mosques that UMNO members will never walk in. The ideologies of the two are also world's apart. The present cultures of the two are also like "black and white". They are so obvious to all of us that I need not elaborate.
Why not talk about fairness in opportunities for all the rakyat, instead of other rubbish.
Recent news are awashed with this party talking with that party; this person talking to that person. Some advocating resolving this party to form that party. Others say let's be brothers for the sake of race and religion, AGAIN!!
On the other end, MCA incumbents are falling like 10 pins in their division elections !
Let's form a new party...The Malaysia Rojak Party!
This section of Lebuh Pantai is T'uan Loh Sin Kay. Don't ask me what it is. I haven't heard any story about this street. Anyone has any idea? Maybe Romerz, or Monsterball (if he is still around) could shed some light on the name of this street.
[For an introduction to this topic, please click here: Penang Streets #1]
The Star reported that "eight of the 16 Proton Perdanas for Terengganu’s executive councillors have been seized by the Anti-Corruption Agency. This has left them with no choice but to use the Mercedes E200 Kompressors for their official duties".
This is a good one.
Now what has the ever forgiving PM has to say? Don't worry, he'll come up with something more fantastic.
Meanwhile the ACA is chasing after the "small fishes" again. This is just a small beginning, but will there be an ending?? The Star reported that "the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has arrested three car workshop owners and seized eight of the 16 Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars owned by the Terengganu Government".
Now get on with your work of governance or just get out of the way. Real fed-up!!
'next time you wait and see- we change a more shiok one...lombo-gini yah!no need PM ok next time... got oil royalty - no problem (Picture from Lie-Dat Oso-can Ah?! without permission)
Don't you think you are sick of all the trash spewing out from the mouths of little minds????
Get on with your work of governance, or just get out !!
The Star is quite happy printing the "news". The more annoyed we are, the more we want to read and write about it. It's reverse psychology! In a little remote turtle town of an unknown kampung called Bolehland, these "elected" kampung "officials" are playing with toys, not spinning the gasing (tops) like their neighbouring kampung, but playing with the real stuff which rich men do...Mercedes cars!
[ Terengganu can keep its 14 Mercedes Benzes bought for RM3.43mil recently but they can only be used for foreign dignitaries.]
"Foreign dignitaries" visiting this unknown kampung?? Beijing Olympics held in this kampung ah?? Has this kampung a museum? It will be useful as a garage for these 14 Merc E200 Kompressors while waiting for the visits by foreign dignitaries!
[ “I told them that the state government has not spent extravagantly and the decision to procure the Mercedes cars was done after two years of evaluation,” said Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said.]
Huh? I thought he just recently became the MB. Two years evaluation...Phd thesis on some nuclear hypotheses!
I might have read his articles before in the Malaysian Insiders, but his article featured to-day strikes a chord. He is the young and talented John Lee. I don't know whether you have taken notice of his very articulate style of presenting his thoughts and opinions. He is way ahead of those his age, and others older as well!
To my knowledge, he has written the best article on this so-called "sensitive" topic. I think his written opinion and personal experience would not have seen the light of day during the Mahathir era. His story is unfortunately, a very typical story. I also have had such experience for my adopted daughter, but that is another story.
I hope things would improve in time to come. Maybe in another generation or two, if there are changes. The indoctrination has been going on for so long that it is impossible to change their mindset overnight.
I wish him success and happiness in his new environment.
If you are still wondering what the hell I am rambling about, please clik here. I have also put a link to his blog.
To-day we start with the first posting of "Penang Streets in Penang Hokkien Dialect (PHD)"
I don't claim to be very knowledgeable on this subject. My little knowledge would be no better than an average Penangite. It's a situation of I happened to be growing up in that area; that's all. So my comments are open to criticisms and corrections; and hopefully some of you could shed more light to this interesting subject.
Another caution is that for the non-Penang Hokkien speaking readers, it is most unlikely that you will get the pronunciation correct. This problem may resolve somewhat if we use Hanyu Pinyin; but then again I don't really know it and so are many of my readers. Three terms you should know. "Kay" is street. "Lor" is road. "Harng" is lane. Most of the traders doing similar business would operate along the same street. So in a way, you could say George Town was once the biggest Hypermall in the world! As I said in my previous post, the street distance is usually very short. This was particularly very useful for the trishaw-men as they would know the exact section of the road to go to.
Ok, here we go.
Let us start from where I was born and grew up. Lebuh Pantai. Lebuh Pantai has 4 different sections in Penang Hokkien Dialect (PHD). The stretch of Lebuh Pantai from the Esplanade clock tower to the junction of Lebuh Chulia is called T'or K'or Kay. The Star translates it as Wholesale Street. This section, used to be the place where you would find all the big "European" trading companies where they acted as sole agents for imported European goods. I have forgotten the exact names/spellings of these companies. Two of them are Jardin Waugh and William Jacks. Maybe the more appropriate translation for this street should be "Big Companies Street". This was and still is the place where all the banks and law firms converge.
The Star reported that "a group of Gerakan members has put up six road signs in Chinese here to tell the DAP that it has to come up with such road signs since the party is now helming the state".
I think they are doing it just for cheap publicity. Don't tell me more tourists will come visiting just because we put up road signs in different languages. Actually putting up the road signs in Chinese doesn't mean anything unless they are read in Penang Hokkien Dialect (PHD). You see, the local Hokkiens still call these roads in Hokkien. If you read the Chinese signage in any other dialect, including Mandarin, it loses its heritage flavour.
The road names in Penang are actually very confusing to outsiders. First, you have the old name, eg. Beach Street. Then you have the new name in Bahasa: Lebuh Pantai. And to add to further confusion, you have the mispelt name "Leboh". Another example, Ayer Hitam Road was the old name. Now you have rojak spelling for this road!! The correct spelling should be Jalan Air Itam. But do you know how many spelling you have for this road? Jalan Ayer Itam; Jalan Air Hitam; etc,etc.
I used to live in downtown Lebuh Pantai (Sia Boey Kay). My father's shop is still there, and he is still living there. Lebuh Pantai itself has 4 different names in PHD, pinpointing the different sections of the road. This was particularly very useful for the trishaw-men as they would know the exact section of the road to go to.
For my future postings, I shall discuss about the Penang street names in PHD and their meanings. Please visit this blog more often.
(Photographer's comment: Lottery ticket vendor, China town, Bangkok. The irony in selling the dream of winning the lottery unperturbed by the man lying on the street amazed me. The sad thing is I almost didn't notice him, consumed by my own indifference. )
At least once in 3 weeks some people's lives change beyond their dreams!! Each time I buy 3 dreams, and dream along for 3 weeks. Then for a few minutes in every 3 weeks, my hopes heightened while checking the draw results in the papers. For RM9 or less, it's worth every sen dreaming. I don't know; for me, this dream is very close to my heart, something very real and just waiting for the right time! Maybe because someone I know had struck it rich recently, although he has already got more than the lucky pay-out. Strange isn't it? When you don't need it, more is given to you.
"Education Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammudin Tun Hussein’s son is doing O’ levels and will be going off to the United Kingdom this coming September to further his studies.
Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s daughter, Nooryana Najwa has been accepted into Georgetown University in Washington DC to read politics and international relations after doing her IB (International Baccalaureate)."
The above statements from S Manikavasagam's blog. He is the elected MP of Kapar under PKR.
Dr Lim (right) being greeted by Penang Chinese Clan Council vice-chairman Soon See Keng at the opening ceremony of the symposium in George Town yesterday. (Photo From The Star)
The STAR reported that the former Penang chief minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu as saying that the Barisan Nasional Government is strong and secure. Tun Dr Lim said this at the opening of a symposium on The Evolution of the Sino-South-East Asian Communities at the Wawasan Open University (WOU) in Penang yesterday (Fri 18 July).
He further added that perhaps the Opposition would have to adjust and adapt themselves in their roles.
Hmm, food for thought from a very seasoned and respected political icon of Penang.
Nelson Mandela celebrates his 90th birthday to-day Friday 18 July 2008.
He is a man of stainless steel, spending 27 years in jail under the brutal apartheid regime of South Africa. Due to the hard labour he endured in the lime quarry on Robben Island he had lost the functioning of his tear ducts. He was released from prison on 11 February 1990 and subsequently became President of South Africa from 27 April 1994 to 14 June 1999.
Robben Island prison yard
Nelson Mandela's prison cell on Robben Island
I salute you, Mr. Nelson Mandela. May you have good health, enjoy peace and happiness!!
You can read from BBC news as well. BBC has also come up with this Audio Slide Show on Mandela in conjunction with his 90th birthday.
This is a good reminder to all our politicians on what a great leader should be.
[Did you notice Mandela's prisoner number? 46664. "666" is the sign of the devil. "4" as you know in many Chinese dialects means "die". I wonder who is the real devil?]
(I got this photo from wikipedia. Strange, why the US flags?)
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is an honest man.
The Star reported him claiming that his outstanding track record of giving priority to the people cannot be denied.
"Stressing that he was neither a weak nor a scared leader, Najib said his achievements reflected his credentials, capabilities and commitment to safeguard the interests of the people."
He said, “Look at my track record. I am not neglecting the people’s interests."
Well done, you honest man! We, the lowly peasants pray you take care of us!!
(That's my girl: Suppuletchumy watcing as Lim shows one of Puspha's awards) (Photo from The Star)
The Star reported the wonderful news of a mother's greatest joy. This is the best news, away from the political turmoil of the day. Well done! Dr Puspha Rahman who is the daughter of a rubber tapper single mother. She delivered the valedictorian speech in honour of her mother, at the 2008 Penang Medical College graduation ceremony.
A monk at Tiger Temple spraying urine on a tiger to induce submission. (Picture from The Star)
It all started with a natural bonding between a Buddhist monk and a tiger. And this widened into a community of monks and tigers attracting world wide interest and media coverage, including a documentary by Animal Planet.
Now the latest report in The Star is most shocking!! It reported that " this conservation facade of the monastery in Kanchanaburi province, 322km north of Bangkok, has crumbled under the weight of a damning report released late last month by UK-based Care for the Wild International (CWI)." It further reported that the temple, far from being a rescue centre, was operating as a commercial breeding establishment, mistreating the animals which they were supposed to protect.
The report "Exploiting the Tiger: Illegal Trade, Animal Cruelty and Tourists at Risk at the Tiger Temple" was based on two years of investigation.
One might ask, "What has Buddhism got to do with this?" Precisely the point. Over time, with VIP treatment, and Big Money, the monks have forgotten they are still wearing the robes. It's not surprising that this happens in Thailand. There are thousands of bogus monks roaming the streets of Thailand. A sheer disgrace to the pristine teachings of the Buddha. That was why the Buddha always reminded his monks to stay clear of worldly affairs.
Some joker sent this to me. I hope you haven't come across this yet. I dedicate this to Monsterball, so that he will visit me more often, and make this blog more lively, albeit at a great risk of critical pollution!
Here it goes:
A little boy goes to his father and asks 'Daddy, how was I born?'
The father answers, ' Well, son, I guess one day you will need to find out anyway! Your Mom and I first got together in a chat room on Yahoo. Then I set up a date via e-mail with your Mom and we met at a cyber-cafe. We sneaked into a secluded room, where your mother agreed to a download from my hard drive. As soon as I was ready to upload, we discovered that neither one of us had used a firewall, and since it was too late to hit the delete button, nine months later a little Pop-Up appeared that said: '
[ Lili the ever graceful lady has this to comment: "Hi Justin, Monsterball is right. Yr posting is too deep. Straight thinking me don't know what u are rambling about until u explain it is about politics -"
What did Monsterball say? Here it is:
"This is from a Buddhist text?Justin...all visitors are bored by our sermons.Lets rumble!Trace how and where strip tease shows started.I will give you King Herod and Soloma....dancing and stripping...got John The Baptist head cut off..as the starter.Now maybe you can give us an incident...a wife cut off..husband dick..seeing a strip tease show.By the way.....what is the moral of your so deep sermon?
This was my reply to Monsterball: "Aiyoooh Monsterball,This time you really disappoint me greatly.
It's about the state of this nation. The recent spate of arrests on corruption prompted this story. Full of corrupted officials, and arrogant politicians. They are the products of this despicable system. The root cause is not them. They are just the unavoidable soiled products due to the flawed system of production. They are actually the victims of the system created and perpetuated by That Person. Although they do contribute to our miseries, but if you investigate thoroughly, we should castigate and castrate the very top of the power structure, then down the line all will behave. It's a very simple Rule by Example, it works both ways. Look at Singapore and look at Malaysia. Poles apart, but the truism is "monkey see monkey do". This is not a Buddhism story. Where got Maha Tail in Buddhism stories??Don't you notice this posting is labelled "humour, satire/sarcasm, special message"?
Enjoy the story now and sing along at the ending; just compose your own music to fit the lyrics!]
Once upon a time , high up in a mountain, in Nowhereland, there was a small lake with water crystal clear. No one had ever set foot on this Nowhereland, for no one could ever find it. You see, it is rather intriguing to even pronounce the name. Is it No Where Land, or is it Now Here Land?
The water in the lake was so pure that fishes thrived in it. All of them were very trim and fit, perfectly healthy, and when the time came for anyone of them to go, it was always due to old age. All were little fishes feeding on the natural weeds and algae. And whenever they had any problem with their lives and relationships they would always fall on Ye Olde Wise Turtle to consult. It was a lake made in heaven, in No Where Land, or was it Now Here Land? Well it was in Nowhereland, where little fishes lived a simple and contented life in peace and happiness!!.
Then one day, dark clouds hovered threateningly above the pristine lake. It never happened before, as there was always sunny sky. Panicked, they called up Ye Olde Wise Turtle.
"Oh! Wise Turtle, pray tell us what is happening, why are dark patches up above? We have never seen this before," cried all the little fishes.
" My dear little friends, bad tidings are here to caste a terrible curse on all of you!" warned Ye Olde Turtle.
"How could it be? We have not harmed any one. Why would any one want to harm us??"
Ye Olde Turtle then had to reveal the plain truth to the little fishes about the true nature of life, "You see, my little friends; life is not a bed of roses meaning that life is not like what you think it should be, forever for you to enjoy in peace and harmony. My little friends, in life there is always this person with a very big tail, sneeking around to cause havoc and suffering to innocent fishes like you. Let me tell you his name. His name is Maha Tail! Maha means big, and tail you know what. He will eventually descend and spew strange gases over the whole lake. But don't panic. All of you will not die. In fact the strange gases will make you feel happy and you will be fed with pleasure foods which you would never dream of. A handful of you will eventually get fatter and forget your humble beginnings. You will plunder and trod on all the other little fishes. I shall not go on further, time will eventually unfold the unavoidable drama in this Nowhereland.
I am sorry for all of you. The events will unfold in a span of about 30 years from now, and there will come a time where a huge rod of fire with a sharp pointed tip will descend upon you degenerated souls to cleanse all the dirt and filth that all of you would have accumulated. This huge descending rod is called a "Rocket"! It will have a huge red ring around it. When you see such a threatening structure, the end of your time is nigh!!
Oh you poor little fishes. You have no where to escape. The lake is your only home. As for me, I have to say good bye to all of you for I have to seek new pastures down the hill."
Having said that Ye Olde Turtle changed into Ye Olde Tortoise so that he could descend on dry ground to the other side of the mountain. Then Ye Olde Tortoise began to sing:
It's now 4.15 pm. Just got back from my father's shophouse, to "transfer" my mother to her "Treasure Box".
"It's a Treasure Box!" my 3 year-old grand daughter yelled excitedly with American accent acquired from marathon watching Playhouse Disney Channel!
"Yes! It's a Treasure Box!!" confirm this grand father, "and Chor Chor (Great Grandma ) is going inside, Hooray!!"
All the scary cats didn't seem to know what to do. They were being led blindly by the undertakers, except this "unfilial son of a grandfather ", if you don't get it, it's me.
Yesterday (9 July 2008) at 5pm. my mother was happy to leave her fragile body. She was 83 years old. My second sister and I were happy too! You see it very much depends on the manner you view life. It has been close to 2 years after we took back our mother after she was unceremoniously dumped in an old folks home. Aiyah don't want to repeat the sob story. If you are not bored already by now you can click here for the post I wrote about my mother.
My second sister and I were too happy to have the privilege to take care of my mother for her final 2 years. It was a pleasure. Thank you mother. But frankly, at times the unthinkable thoughts did surface. So must not be like the politicians, "I never lied!"
My mother died in my house. So as a matter of respect, my second sister and I went to consult the "really old man". "Really old man " means my father. I have to add "really" because I am old as well. But compared with my father, I am of course young!! The "really old man" said , "No no no, we must have a meeting and decide where to place the mother." The long meeting lasted 2 seconds (must be a world record!) when the "older old man" said with a sense of authority, " Put mother here in the shophouse." Aiyoh, have to explain two terms here: "older old man" refers to the eldest brother. Since I am "old man" and my father is the "really old man", then this eldest brother has got to be the "older old man". Get it?? What about "a sense of authority"? Well the "older old man" never seems to have a clear direction in life, but yesterday's decision was a gem. I think he must be improving in his karaoke lately, which I often saw him entering the "singing house" just down the road where I live.
Immediately after my mother passed away, I put up a "bulletin" in my two blogs that I was taking a 7-day emergency "leave". Wah! felt so important lah! Must announce to the world that something important has crept up! I was just kidding myself to feel important, you see? As all of you know, my blogs are actually "ghost town" blogs, well, until the Great Monsterball came a visiting. Thank you Monsterball, The Great!! Actually, because Monsterball is celebrating his birthday this Saturday, my purpose of the "Bulletin" was to say sorry to him for unable to send him a birthday cake thru this blog. Nevermind now. Monsterball, your cake is on the way, come this Saturday!
My mother died in my house, and now the "older old man" wants her in the shophouse! I was actually delighted! That means I don't have to mess up my house, and best of all, I can continue blogging!! That's why I am enjoying writing this now! Ha! ha! ha! ha! Aiyoh, Justin Choo so terrible!! Mother died and he is telling the world he is enjoying himself! Despite him being a Dhamma teacher! Dhamma teacher means one who teaches Buddhism. On a more serious note: I have done the most important and relevent duty as a son for his mother; taking good care of her when she was alive. She gasped during her last moment under my arms. Have chanted for her daily, well almost. (Must be honest again like the politicians.) Sometimes too engrossed in blogging and internet, I forgot!!
Knowing her time was approaching when the doctor told me she was unconscious, I did a session of more serious chanting for her, and then invited two Sri Lankan monks to perform the final blessings at about 1 pm. By 5pm my mother was happy to go. And I was happy too. No more suffering!
My second sister being a retired tutor nurse and past Principal of a Nursing School, had no fear of dead body, and knew exactly what to do. We washed our mother and put her in her clean clothes. Everthing was just simple, clean and tidy. So the "older old man" came about past 10pm for the body. I told the undertakers to spare me 5 minutes. I closed the door of the room, knelt down beside my mother and did some chanting, went over to her head and kissed her forehead. I then told the undertakers that I would put my mother on the awaiting stretcher. With my sister and the help of the undertakers we transferred her to the stretcher, while the "older old man" just looked on helplessly.
Just now at the shophouse, before transferring my mother to her "Treasure Box" I again asked the undertakers to give me a few minutes. I bent over and put my palms over my mother's cheeks, recite a short Buddhist blessing and again kissed my mother's forehead to say thank you and good bye, mother. Then with the help of the undertakers, we put mother to rest. Happily after that, I said good bye to all of them, and here I am, happily typing away for the last 2 hours!
Since I don't have to be present at the shophouse, I quickly deleted the "bulletin' in my two blogs. Of course no one had read it yet, being a "ghost town"!
Now I would like to share a hilarious story told to us by my Dhamma teacher, the late Chief Reverend Dr. Dhammananda of the Brickfields Buddhist Maha Vihara. Once, some relatives of this man who had passed away, approached the Chief Reverend to seek his advice on "body snatching". They told Chief that some Christians claimed that that man was a converted Christian; and to make matters worse, the Muslims also went to claim the body saying that this man had converted to Islam!
You know what the Chief said? "We Buddhists never fight over dead bodies!!"
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sama Sambuddhassa
Homage To The Buddha, The Fully Enlightened One
As a Buddhist the departing phrase is this:
Aniccavata Sankhara
Uppadavaya Dhammino
Uppajjitva Nirujjhanti
Tesamvupa Samo Sukho
(All component things are indeed transient
They are of the nature of arising and decaying
Having come into being, they cease to be
The cessation of this process is bliss!)
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
May I dedicate again my favourite song "Ma Ma Hao" to my mother. May she be reborn in a happy and peaceful abode; and may she one day attain the final release...Nibbana!
