Jed Yoong

Aiks. From famous blogger Everibodi Lafu Rojakz. He very, very powderful one — in the blogging world — and is organising Together Gather 2. Aiyoyoyoyoyo.

Best expressed by another funky poster by Mob’s Crib:

Mike Tyson a.k.a. Muhd Taib, who is also UMNO information chief, shot to global notoriety when he was caught with two suitcases stuffed with RM2.4million of cash in Australia. Then he pleaded that his poor English-language proficiency caused his ignorance of the country’s laws. Hence he was not convicted!!! More recently, when he lodged a police report against Malaysia Today last year, he had to get a reporter’s help to gather evidence from the Internet as our NEW Rural and Regional Development Minister didn’t know how!

Around the blogs:
Rocky’s Bru
Susan Loone
Kadir Jasin (Am waiting for Kadir Jasin’s comment, he just posted the line-up.)

To sign the petition to call for Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s a.k.a. Sleepy/Dopey resignation, click here.

An editor from a local English-language tabloid specialising in classifieds and advertisements wrote today that the “denial syndrome has to stop” in the MSM.

(more…)

Malaysiakini reported that Ong Ka Ting said: “And to ensure that the Chinese representation is continued in the new government, I will be making recommendations to the prime minister soon.”

Yo, bro. Your party dun represent many people these days. The Chinese have rejected you. So you are now whose representatives? Appointed by UMNO means? UMNO-lah.

MCA - The Voice of UMNO

***UPDATE***5.16PM:

Marina Mahathir, Mukhriz’s sister, said that total voters should be 45,513, putting voter turnout at 81 per cent. They are trying to get SPR to correct the erroneous statistics on the website…

JY: So can we rely on the other “official” results on the SPR website? I suggest all the elected representatives check that the figures are correct.

ORIGINAL POST

From the Election Commission (SPR) website:

P.5 - JERLUN

IDRIS BIN AHMAD PAS 17,219
MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR BN 19,424 MNG

JUMLAH PEMILIH : 37,297
KERTAS UNDI DITOLAK : 599
KERTAS UNDI DIKELUARKAN : 37,242
KERTAS UNDI TIDAK DIKEMBALIKAN : 0
PERATUSAN PENGUNDIAN : 99.85%
MAJORITI : 2,205

Don’t need Opposition MPs to highlight issues
Star
THU - Mar 6, 2008

COMMENT
By V.K. CHIN

ONE argument put forward in the 2008 general election by the Opposition is that there must be more representatives in Parliament to speak up on issues after the nation has voted.

The only way to do this is to support Opposition candidates. This of course is a naive way of hoodwinking voters to change sides.

If the only purpose of being an MP is to raise issues in Parliament, then those making those proposals do not know how the august House works.

It will be a sad day if the only function of an MP is to raise issues of public interest and to ignore the welfare of their constituents.

Parliament sits only about a dozen times a year and with some 200 members, it is impossible for everyone to have a chance to speak at each session.

In fact, there are many Opposition MPs who hardly spoke though they might have been members of this honourable House for several terms.

Apart from raising a few issues during question time, their sole function appears to be walking out of the House in protest over a decision by the Speaker.

However, there are no new issues cropping up that the media will not have covered. The mass media highlights issues of public interest on a daily basis.

All the issues raised by MPs in Parliament are old news anyway. If their intention is to talk about current issues, there is no necessity for so many Opposition members, just a few will do.

Still, people are taken in by such a ruse, giving the impression that the Government backbenchers have been keeping quiet at each sitting, and just make up the numbers.

This of course is not the case, as the Government members are just as vocal on current issues and in bringing up topics concerning their constituencies and the public at large at every meeting.

It is therefore important that people should be careful when casting their votes and not fall prey to simplistic views of the role of an MP.

If people have any complaints, they can always call a press conference or send letters to the editor. It is a newspaper’s duty to publish such complaints so long as they conform to the law and no third party is defamed.

And this “letter” on the same day….

Who will be the loser?

AS the 12th General Election campaign intensifies leading to polling day on March 8, the public are speculating that the Opposition is going to win more urban parliamentary and state seats. The pro-Opposition trend seems to be gathering momentum.

As an urban voter myself, I am inclined to ask, if it is true that the Opposition is heading to win more seats in the urban areas this time, at who’s expense will it be?

Obviously it would be at the expense of the MCA and to a certain extent the Gerakan.

What does this mean to the Malaysian voters and the Malaysian political landscape? The answer is simple, and that is there will be less Chinese representation in the Umno-led Government.

This is certainly undesirable as less Chinese representation in the Government will only result in a weaker voice for the Chinese in the Government and the Cabinet.

A weaker voice in the Government and the Cabinet will only weaken Chinese representation and this will render it difficult for MCA to negotiate for the Chinese community in the Government.

It is vital that there must be strong Chinese representation to ensure that the interests of the Chinese are looked after.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has proven that he is capable of speaking up for the Chinese community in the Government and the Cabinet on matters pertaining to Chinese representation in the civil service, mother-tongue education etc.

More Opposition representation in Parliament does not mean anything other than making more noise in Parliament.

We may need some good opposition MPs in Parliament to provide the checks and balances. But we certainly do not need too many of them who will be singing the same song in their anti-establishment stance.

On the contrary we can’t afford less Chinese representation in the Government and the Cabinet which are tasked to administer the nation.

The point I really want to make here is that a big win for the Opposition, especially the DAP, will be a loss for the Chinese community in terms of Chinese representation in the Government.

My advice to the urban electorate is to think very carefully about the consequences for the Chinese community if the DAP is to win more seats at the expense of the MCA.

This is not the time to talk of change for the sake of change. We have to ponder over very carefully about the importance of Chinese representation in the Umno-led Government.

URBAN VOTER,
Cheras.

JY: Is Star writing its “letters” to itself these days? The “letter” sounds like V K or WCW…you know, MCA “house style”…. When has OKT spoken up REALLY for the Chinese? The MCA has done nothing, remember to kick them out ‘cos all they care about are prob those lucrative government contracts, development deals, etc……DID MCA do anything about the body snatching cases? HOW COME after so many years of Michael Chong, loan sharks are still around?

From Everibodi Lafu Rojaks:

This story i heard from my Ahbeng frend telling me his previous voting experience.

So 5 yrs ago he go to vote la … the upon arriving at the voting station he goan do checking whether his name is there anot … then he see there is one empty counter which belongs to PAS one tarak olang there … he fast fast go there to check la.

When he presented his IC that fler check and confirmed that he can vote at that place … then the PAS fler hand him back his IC and tell him lidis ….

PAS fler : Bang! Vote ini ok? Vote bulan mia! *while pointing at the PAS logo like the one below*

Ahbeng : Tak bleh … tak Bleh …. Aku sapot DAP mia!

PAS fler : Bang … ini bagus bang! Locket tarak best la bang!
Ahbeng : Salah lar lu! Locket ka bulan ka .. sama saja!
PAS fler : Mana sama bang?
Ahbeng : Kalo tarak Locket you think can goto bulan anot?!!
PAS fler :

Malaysiakini reported:

PKR de facto Anwar Ibrahim was at Lembah Pantai to support his daughter Nurul Izzah. He said that he would campaign to ensure his daughter’s victory.

JY: Mukhriz’s daddy isn’t campaigning for him. If you can’t even campaign on your own, why should we vote for you? Also, Anwar may be a liability. Minus 100 points.

The great caption on Star’s frontpage today. It described the photo of our BN big wigs tossing yee sang. What a bunch of tossers? Ha ha ha.

Also why is our PM and wife wearing white on CNY? Hello! That’s bad feng shui lah. Are they deliberately showing disrespect for other cultures?

From an email:

A POLITICALLY CORRECT STORY……. .!
This joke can be enjoyed by everyone. Not only that. It is politically correct and with a moral lesson.
============ ========= ========= ========= ========= =====

While walking down the street one day a Malaysian Boleh Minister is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the man.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really, I have made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the Yang Berhormat.

“I’m sorry, but we have our rules,” says St. Peter.

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and dressed in the finest batik there is. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then indulge themselves on lobsters, caviar and the most expensive food there is. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

“Now it’s time to visit heaven.”

So, 24 hours pass with the Yang Berhormat joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

“Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

The Yang Berhormat reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think Ai yam better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

“I don’t understand,” stammers the Yang Berhormat. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, “Yesterday we were campaigning just like you during an election…. .. Today you voted.”

VOTE WISELY IN THE COMING ELECTION!

Tks for sending me the email.

Asia Sentinel
Monday - Jan 21, 2008
Our Correspondent

Slain Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu sinks further from public consciousness

In what has become a dismal pattern of trial by delay, the proceedings in a Malaysian court involving three defendants accused of murdering the young Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu were adjourned early last week, this time so the defense could seek out a telecommunications expert for advice.

What seemed at the time to be a case that could expose sex, lies and intrigue at the very heart of the Malaysian system, seems fated to disappear and eventually be forgotten. The woman, a beautiful free lance translator, was allegedly murdered at the instigation of her lover, Abdul Razak Baginda, a well-connected political analyst. He is on trial along with two bodyguards from an elite police unit controlled by Baginda’s good friend, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. But for all that, there seems little inclination on the part of Malaysia’s mainstream media to cover the case extensively as it gravitates further into the back pages on procedural delays. The two biggest newspapers, the New Straits Times and the Malaysia Star are controlled by the United Malays National Organisation and the Malaysian Chinese Association, respectively, the two leading ethnic parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

At least 62 witnesses have testified since the trial began its stuttering course nearly seven months ago, deepening suspicions that the case is being deliberately delayed to drive it from public view. Certainly, it appears nowhere near completion. A total of 132 potential witnesses were notified that they might have to testify.

Because of the explosive nature of the trial and allegations of connections to the deputy prime minister, it is being treated gingerly by the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, which doesn’t seem to want the verdict in a politically embarrassing murder trial to occur any time close to elections that may be called early this year.

The woman’s remains were found in November 2006 in a patch of jungle near the Kuala Lumpur suburb of Shah Alam. Police said she was shot in the head and her body blown up with explosives available only to armed forces personnel. On trial are Baginda, 46, once the influential head of a political think-tank and a close confidant of Najib Tun Razak; Azilah Hadri, 31 and Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, both of whom were Najib’s bodyguards. Despite the closeness of Najib to all three defendants, he has neither been summoned for questioning nor named as a witness.

While Altantuya’s death was first characterized as a tale of love gone wrong, suspicions have grown that she may have had knowledge of a much bigger controversy, involving the purchase of French submarines for the Malaysian defense ministry through a company connected to Razak Baginda, who was in France with Altantuya dealing with the submarine purchase, which netted his company a greater than 10 percent commission, at the same time Najib was there.

Continue reading @ AsiaSentinel.com

Scientists develop computer that can ‘translate’ a dog’s bark
The Daily Mail, UK
Last updated at 10:37am on 16th January 2008

What would a dog say if it could talk? “Stranger”, “fight”, “walk”, “alone”, “ball” and “play”, according to scientists who have developed a computer programme to translate dog barks.

The special programme analysed more than 6,000 barks from 14 Hungarian sheepdogs in six different situations.

In a series of tests the team of scientists, from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary led by Csaba Molnár, discovered that a computer could recognise whether a dog was in a stranger, fight, walk, alone, ball or play scenario.

The barks were tape recorded and then digitized on a computer, which used software to study their differences.

The computer correctly identified the different situations 43 per cent of the time. Although it was not a high success rate it was far better than human recognition, the researchers said.

The computer was most accurate in identifying the “fight” and “stranger” contexts, and was least effective at matching the “play” bark.

The results appear in the journal Animal Cognition, and suggest that dogs have acoustically different barks depending on their emotional state.

The researchers also performed a second test, in which the computer identified individual dogs by their bark.

The software correctly identified the dogs 52 per cent of the time, again much better than the human result, suggesting there are individual differences in barks even though humans are not able to recognize them.

The team also plans to compare the barks of different breeds to discover what they have in common.

Let’s not take politics too seriously. Have a laugh. From an email:

Kalau lelaki handsome pendiam
Perempuan akan cakap: woow, cool giler…
kalau lelaki tak handsome pendiam
Perempuan akan cakap: eh perasan bagus…

kalau lelaki handsome berbuat jahat
Perempuan akan kata: nobody’s perfect
kalau lelaki tak handsome berbuat jahat
perempuan akan cakap: memang…. muka pun macam pecah rumah!

kalau lelaki handsome menolong perempuan yg diganggu
perempuan akan cakap: wah.. machonya.. macam hero filem!
kalau lelaki tak handsome menolong perempuan yang diganggu
Perempuan akan kata: entah2 kawan dia…

kalau lelaki handsome dapat perempuan cantik
perempuan akan kata: sepadan sangat…
kalau lelaki tak handsome dapat perempuan cantik
perempuan akan kata: mesti kena bomoh perempuan tuh!

kalau lelaki handsome ditinggal kekasih
perempuan akan kata: jangan sedih, kan saya ada..
kalau lelaki tak handsome ditinggal kekasih
perempuan akan kata:…(terdiam, tapi telunjuknya meliuk-liuk dari atas ke bawah, patutlah, tengok saja luarannya)…

kalau lelaki handsome penyayang binatang
perempuan akan cakap: perasaannya halus…penuh kasih sayang
kalau lelaki tak handsome penyayang binatang
perempuan akan cakap: sesama keluarga memang harus menyayangi…

kalau lelaki handsome bawa BMW
perempuan akan cakap: matching… hebat luar dalam
kalau lelaki tak handsome bawa BMW
perempuan akan cakap: bang, bosnya mana?…

kalau lelaki handsome tak mau bergambar
perempuan akan cakap: pasti takut kalau2 gambarnya tersebar
kalau lelaki tak handsome tak mau bergambar
perempuan akan kata: tak sanggup melihat hasilnya ya?…

kalau lelaki handsome menuang air ke gelas perempuan
perempuan akan cakap:ini barulah lelaki gentlemen
kalau lelaki tak handsome menuang air ke gelas perempuan
perempuan akan cakap: naluri pembantu, memang begitu….

kalau lelaki handsome bersedih hati
perempuan akan cakap: let me be your shoulder to cry on
kalau lelaki tak handsome bersedih hati
perempuan akan kata: kuat nangis!! lelaki ke bukan ni?

Malaysia: Vijay Singh declared persona non grata by Malaysia citing a Hindu plot to convert Malays. Top cleric issues a fatwah against all Indonesian Muslims. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi declares the entire country a construction project and awards the contract to his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin.

From A Horror Scope for 2008 @ Asia Sentinel

JED YOONG: Looks like the second part of “forecast” is already being fulfilled.

Life can be dull but trust either Nazri or Zam to lighten up the day. Tks Zam! Heard you are on leave in London? Enjoy and try to learn about democracy while you are there. ENJOY Zam’s letter published in the New Straits Times today (Tues, Nov 27, 2007)

IN reference to “Wrong to link the king to demo” by Tunku Abdul Aziz (NST, Nov 18), I would like to state that we should consider ourselves fortunate that Al Jazeera presented us the opportunity to make known to it that we understand its role and goals.

The interview during the Nov 10 illegal demonstration has exposed its perception of Malaysia and given the opportunity for me to correct its interpretation.

As I understand it, this international news channel was established as a tool to drive home the message of Western democracy to the people and governments of the Middle East.

It knows and understands that this is its role, but has yet to implement it.

The core of the problem with its reporting of the assembly organised by Bersih, is its lack of understanding of Malaysian history.
We were among the first in Asia to embrace free enterprise and free media, and a glance at our economic system would have shown that we had structured ourselves according to Western economic, financial and social precepts since independence.

We are a free democracy and there is no need for it to present us as otherwise to the world, especially to Middle East viewers, which form the core of its audience.

On this background, I think it was clear that its reporting was provocative and questions from the anchor person were designed to force us to justify an illegal assembly.

Furthermore, Al Jazeera’s framing of events portrayed Malaysia as an oppressive regime when we are a progressive country that accepts and embraces democracy and modern values.

To make matters worse, it interviewed someone who is a card-carrying member of the opposition Democratic Action Party and misrepresented him as an independent journalist.

As expected, this DAP member presented the government in a bad light by accusing the police of using violence and force on the demonstrators.

This was then backed up by visuals of the police using water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

As I have said before, Al Jazeera is bent on misrepresenting the events of Nov 10 because if it was honest with its reporting, it would have shown how the police pleaded with the demonstrators many times, over a span of several hours, to persuade them to disperse.

For Tunku Abdul Aziz’s information, there were also small gatherings in London and Thailand on the same issue the same day.

It seems that these were synchronised and probably centrally organised. I believe it had the intention of drawing parallels between events in Malaysia with the demonstrations and protests in Myanmar.

As Muslims and Malays, we should not look at the calligraphic Arabic script that is Al Jazeera’s branding and be taken in by it. We should know who are backing it and what their goal is.

I spoke clearly and directly, and while my presentation may not have been eloquent, it was something that needed to be said.

It is worth remembering that the United Nations itself has proven on many occasions that it is willing to take the side of Western interests against world opinion.

I did not regret speaking to Al Jazeera. In fact, as the information minister, I felt that I had taken a golden opportunity to discharge my duty, by showing Malaysians that Al Jazeera was not the last word in fair and balanced reporting.

But maybe those who are blinded by the image of Western democracy might not be able to see the true colours.