A Short Lecture (Sort Off) pt1

A while back I was requested by some old buddies of mine to give a short talk to their office staff. Well, I had the experience and been in the industry long to impart whatever knowledge I have. And its going to be only 30 minutes to an hour top anyway. "What the heck" I told myself and seemed to have forgotten about it until this buddy of mine called back to remind me about my so called lecture in a week time. Dang, I had not prepared anything much, as I said to him not to worry.
As the date gotten near, I began to doubt myself of whether I still have the stomach to go through a short talk where all eyes will be on me and evaluate what I am going to say (if ever i am going to say anything that is worth listening to). So i prepared my self a 4 pages (top) PowerPoint presentation - spice up a bit with a really slow text animation to buy me time to last at least 30 minutes (to save face, i keep reminding myself)
The day came and i went there early, 30 minutes early to be exact. No one's answering the door bell so i was made to wait by myself - it was a very long wait and at one point almost decided not to go through with it and apologize to my buddies later.

MalaysiaKini article 12/09/2008

Visit to Taiwan needs to be applauded
Ken Sep 12, 08 6:31pm
The BN Backbenchers Club has gone on a two-week trip to Tawain. The Opposition and many Malaysians are viewing this important trip as a desperate effort to stop Pakatan Rakyat from taking power on Sept 16.

What these critics don't realise is that this trip is absolutely necessary and it has to be done now, given that the government has placed agriculture at the top of its economic agenda and allocated a big amount in the 2009 Budget revealed recently.

If there is a delay, these same critics will blame the BN government for not acting fast. A proper analysis of this issue will expose the illogical criticism of the opposition.

The 2009 Budget has provided huge allocations to develop the agricultural industry. Any delay could have dire consequences, given that Malaysia is facing a serious economic downturn. The more than 40 BN MPs are currently gaining first-hand knowledge and insight about major agricultural activities in Taiwan.

In particular, the BN MPs will be able to learn from the Taiwanese about advancements in sectors where Taiwan excels. Upon return on Sept 20, these selfless BN MPs should be able to immediately spearhead Malaysia's next strategic move to diversify its agriculture beyond oil palm and rubber (where Malaysia is already a world leader and an authority and provides expertise to other countries) and tropical fruits, rice and vegetables to the rearing of animals and animal produce for export like how Australia and New Zealand are doing.

This is a strategy which should be applauded as it will mean more employment for Malaysians and inflow of substantial foreign exchange at a time when we are facing reduction in our traditional exports and encountering difficulties in attracting FDI.

Sheep and cattle rearing is not possible in Malaysia, given the humid and hot climate. The only other economically viable animal rearing activity which has a big export market is pig rearing. Taiwan has emerged as a major exporter of pork and pigs and has even overtaken Denmark in exporting to countries such as Japan.

The Taiwanese are emerging as a world authority in pig farming , offering expertise and assistance to many countries. It is only logical, therefore, for us to conclude that the BN MPs are visiting Taiwan to learn about pig farming from the experts to launch a new industry in Malaysia.

What else can Malaysia, whose agricultural sector is relatively bigger than that of Taiwan, learn from the Taiwanese about agriculture relevant to the country?

The BN MPs, in particular the Muslim MPs, are making a huge sacrifice by going on this urgent trip. The sacrifice they are making is evident from the statement of the BBC chairman: "I actually suggested of going on Sept 20, but the majority of the club members are Muslims who will be celebrating Hari Raya beginning October, and they said they would be busy with preparations for the festival."

The piousness of these Muslim MPs is being severely tested during this trip. How are they going to fast and buka puasa with proper halal food and pray five times a day in an environment which is oblivious to Islamic practices - a country where many haram items and practices, for example the consumption of pork and alcohol, are ubiquitous.

What greater sacrifice can one expect from our BN Muslim MPs who have placed the nation above their religion by going to Taiwan on a critical agricultural mission during a period when observance of Islamic practices are most relevant and important?

We, the humble rakyat, thank them for their selflessness.

Dimana 'Cari Ganti'

Permatang Pauh

I was there and I am standing for this by-election. Vote for me, for the future of this country.

Flag Time

Back in 1998, I drove my car with my lights on all day for the whole month of August. I felt I did my part in showing my form of 'civil disobedience'. The next few year, during the same month, we Malaysian were inundated with calls to show 'patriotism' by the Government Ministers and given out free mini flags (well not actually free, but were subsidised via crony sponsorships) I received a lot of those but I only put on the poles minus the flags.

When I was 'expatriated' for 2 years, I had big Jalur Gemilang in my living room wall. Even I had 2 mini flags on my car dashboard (can't put them outside since I found out its an offence to put on other country's flag on my car other than UAE's)

When I returned last year, I had put up Jalur Gemilang on my front gate and mini flags on my dashboard. But this year, I am in full agreement of Kickdefella's contention.

Jam Free Jalan Travers

I came up with this sketch way back in 2004 for the proposal to mitigate Jalan Travers daily jam nightmare. However, since I am not a well connected individual this proposal just left rotting in my pocket HD.

Creativity Blockage

That old jalopy of mine.

My trusty jalopy no more.

The sad thing is that I wasn't driving it myself when this mishap happened. At that spur of moment when a 'distant' colleague of mine had a rush errand to run and requires an open-bedded carrier for an oversize consignments that can't fit into a sedan.

Jargons

Below are list of terms I have been using in the course of my work;

Anodized Titanium Composite Panels
Pewter Finished Nautilus Staircase
Frameless Glass Wall on Stainless Steel Cable
Diamond Shaped Precast Concrete Panels
Frameless Glass Ceiling Light Systems
Fritted Glass Rainscreen System

Maybe I could enclose some pictorial explanation on each items mentioned above.

Soccer Kids tv3

What are the odds a true blue soccer fan watching Malaysian U13 kids playing against a relatively unknown kid soccer club from the land of the rising sun amidst Euro 08 fever and to the lesser extent SUKMA games in KT?

But there I was, cheering and having heart stopping moments watching a replay of a match scantly significant only to those who managed to fill up the half full Shah Alam Stadium that evening.

Never had I feel such a 'patriotic' feeling over any Malaysian soccer team over quite some time. The last being that night in 1980 when Hassan Sani 'jolok' the ball to James Wong to score against South Korean for the ticket to Moscow Olympics. Well not quite, there were few other moments; one night that we won the Sea Games soccer gold medal in 1989, later our homegrown Suparman scored one of the goal from halfway line on that crazy 5-3 scoreline with the Thais.

My last full paying stadium attendance as a fan was in 1986 when Selangor hosted Singapore to a scoreless draw at Stadium Merdeka! That showed how remote I was with the current Malaysian soccer scene. I guess the soccer kids has whetted up my appetite to demand for a good showing of Malaysian senior team at the Sea Games. I just hope these kids, when they do grow up and realised their potential, wont be spoiled by wrong people who helm most of the FA around the country.

USA Kamunting

I came across this article in CounterPunch

Calling the Kettle Black
U.S. Hypocrisy and the Malaysian Guantánamo
By JOANNE MARINER
"It's Malaysia's Guantanamo," the woman told me. I was visiting Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last week, to talk to an activist from a local human rights group. The group, SUARAM, has been leading a fierce campaign to abolish Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA), a law under which more than 70 men are currently held in preventive detention.
Some of the men are suspected of belonging to Jemaah Islamiyah, a militant Islamist group responsible for terrorist bombings in Bali and elsewhere. Others are accused of common crimes like forgery. What they have in common--and what links them to detainees at Guantanamo--is that they are being held in long-term detention without charge or trial.

Guantanamo and Kamunting
While their purported concern for detainees at Guantanamo was opportunistic, at best, the Malaysian authorities have a point. No country has a perfect human rights record, and it would be folly to insist that only countries with outstanding records have the moral standing necessary to point out others' shortcomings. Still, it is not easy for the U.S. government--as it fights to prevent detainees at Guantanamo from challenging their imprisonment in court--to give convincing lessons to Malaysia on these issues.

A Malaysian at Guantanamo
Last year, Mohd Farik Bin Amin, one of two Malaysian detainees held at Guantanamo, was granted an administrative hearing. One of the questions he asked was whether the Malaysian government could demand his extradition.
It's not much of a choice: indefinite detention at Guantanamo or indefinite detention under the ISA. Hopefully, in both countries, fairer options will soon emerge.
Joanne Mariner is a human rights lawyer.

Give myself a pat on the back!!!

Subtle Vote

I have done my part in ensuring the democratic rights of my fellow citizen are being upheld. Back to keeping tabs on the latest news around the country. Just want to share what I found last night from what I would termed as an unlikely source. I am feeling good inside. However I am not at liberty to reveal or link the website. Have to find it yourself.

Election Fever

Having been 'in-communicado' for almost a year without regular updates in this blog, I am very much awaken with flurry of activities around. Now that I am almost having a 'regular' timetable and a slew of 'helpers' (well actually only one, but managed to make others become helpers since the one assigned is totally helpless), I think could slip in few sentences from time to time.

Yes, it's election time again folks. The general feeling is comparable to the one I had in 1999. The only difference this time around; the opposition are more mature and showing some form of organization and a sense of direction. The Anwar factor is no longer the 'main' thrust but has transformed and evolved into a viable alternative front acceptable to the much polarized opposition parties.

I am only contributing towards an insignificant portion of the cause. Too small to be noticed by anybody and too lame by any standard. I only told my growing kids of my stand I took way back in 1997 of the then developing event that has led to this year's election phenomenon. I am voting for the future generation.

Election Manifesto Option

You can access it at the following URL:
http://www.malaysiathinktank.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=96&Itemid=28