Monday 29 August 2011

Broga Town, in between Selangor and Negeri Sembilan

Broga Town in between Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. The road at the left is to Selangor and the road at the right is to Negeri Sembilan.

Date: 28/8/2011

Time: 11.56am

Venue: Broga Town,  in between Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

Broga Town is so unique that it sits in the border of two states in Malaysia, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. On the Selangor side, Broga is in Semenyih while on the Negeri Sembilan side, it's on in Lenggeng. The two states separate Broga by just a big signboard. It's funny when the residents there can just travel to both states by walking.

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association, Kuala Lumpur


Date: 16/8/2011

Time: 6.32pm

Venue: Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association, No. 51, Jalan Sultan, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This building is actually at the corner of Jalan Hang Jebat and Jalan Sultan. The entrance is from both sides.

There are few shops in the building such as tailor shop and chinese bookstore. On the second floor, there's a budget hostel for backpackers.

If Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana) continues with its plan to demolish houses along Jalan Sultan for its MRT Project, this building will have to make way for it.

I wana thank Ai Loon for telling me that this is the oldest building along Jalan Sultan. If not, i won't pay notice to it.  

True enough, Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association was founded in 1920. It's 101-year old already.

According to Badan Warisan Malaysia, it is one of the oldest Chinese opera clubs in Kuala Lumpur. It raises money for charity by performances of Chinese opera and choral singing. The money is mainly donated to the old folks' homes, hospitals and schools. As membership decreased, part of the premises is now sublet for extra revenue. The tall parapet wall, facing Jalan Hang Jebat, with the name of the Association on it, replaces the original balustrades typical of the period. Beautiful classical arches line the five-foot way.

There are so much stories to tell from the building alone. What more along Jalan Sultan and the houses here. Put aside heritage, put aside history, what about the residents here, what about the businesses here?

We are losing heritage over development.

Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia


Date: 16/8/2011

Time: 5.50pm

Venue: Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 I'm glad i made it to Jalan Sultan today. It's my off day and for the first time i went out just to take pictures. It's so hard to take panorama shots in Kuala Lumpur. The cars and the people just won't stop moving. aduih.. I stood there to get this shot for about 15 minutes. I stood still at one point with my tripod ok. I couldn't move my camera, if not the angle sure lari. Everyone were like staring at me..

Anyway, we might not have the chance to see this view again in the future. Jalan Sultan is just next to Petaling Street. The entire stretch of the century old shophouses in this Chinese community enclave will be demolished to make way for underground LRT project at the end of the year.

It's such a sad thing when history and living heritage is being wipe out from our eyes.

The residents are against the project but i find it hard for them to fight the case. They will be compensated. Let's see whether the buildings and the landscape here can be preserved for the generations to come.

I'm sad heritage buildings will be demolished.

I don't wish to see a concrete jungle in Malaysia.

Don't sacrifice so many people's livinghood, heritage, living culture, history, identity and sense of belonging in the name of rapid development. All these elements can work together..

Sunday 14 August 2011

Lee Chong Wei vs Lin Dan: Yonex BWF World Championship 2011 Final

Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei celebrating his win against China's Chen Jin 21-13,21-9 during the semi-final match. Starpic by KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star

Wohooo Lee Chong Wei is in the final! Yes!! Yes! I knew he can make it! He beat Chen Jin in the semi-final last night. 21-13 21-9. I was watching the first match but I have to leave the house for dinner. Chong Wei was a bit slow and cautious la at the beginning but after that, hmmm.. No chance for Chen Jin at all! It’s nice to finally have the chance to watch him play. I missed his matches earlier.

Lee Chong Wei will meet the giant killer and his greatest rival, Lin Dan in the final tonight. Aiyah.. I know this is so gona happen. Some aunty said Chong Wei won’t make it. And even if he does, he will loose to Lin Dan. I was so defensive and I said Chong Wei has improved a lot and he is so good now.

I have confidence that Chong Wei will do his best and create a Malaysian record.

I stayed up till 5am last night to watch Lin Dan play against Peter Gade in another semi-final. The match started at 3am. Peter Gade lost to him but Peter Gade was so strong at heart. He’s quite old. He knows he’s not gona win over Lin Dan but he pushed Lin Dan to the max. Lin Dan lost the first game but managed to get back la. I watched the match until I fell asleep because it’s more than 1 hour. I planned to blog but cannot tahan la, tidur je la.

Lin battled to a 22-24 21-7 21-15 victory to stay in the hunt for his fourth world title.

Tonight the world will comes still again to watch the greatest badminton players on earth fighting for the world title.

It’s the final of Yonex BWF World Championship 2011 between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan.

It’s Chong Wei’s first final in the championship and first time he’s meeting Lin Dan in the championship as well.

Don’t miss it ok. Don’t forget to watch! You can watch it from TV1 or Astro.

I’ve already checked the time for the match. The match is at 12pm London’s time and Malaysian time is 7pm.

For those who can't watch it live on tv, can see the livescore from http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/matches.aspx?id=E563A742-DF5A-44B0-8253-B53004FAEB4D&d=20110814

I wont go anywhere tonight. No dates, no concerts no movies. I’ll just stick onto the TV to watch the match.

Lee Chong Wei, all the best!

The nation is supporting you. The Malaysians are cheering for you. We are proud of your achievements.

MALAYSIA BOLEH!

*Actually im a bit worried la. I scared the same thing whch happened to our football team, Harimau Malaya will happened to Lee Chong Wei. We all were so hoping that Harimau Malaya can score and win the match with Singapore and then qualified for World Cup but we lost. All of us were so disappointed and sad. Anyhow, i pray hard that Lee Chong Wei can make it la.*


*You people pray hard la he can win, then maybe Najib will give us a public holiday. Then all of us can have a longer Hari Raya break. hahaaa.*

Sunday 7 August 2011

LANDSLIDE IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS

BREAKING NEWS!!

BREAKING NEWS! Landslide at Cameron Highlands. 1 died, few injured n more feared to be buried in the mud. Come on people. Repost this fast2 so that more people can pray for their safety. Tq so much.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/8/7/nation/20110807203915&sec=nation

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=606539

http://www.nst.com.my/articles/LandslideinCameronHighlands/Article/

Friday 5 August 2011

Does MIC Deserve Three Ministers?

By Kee Thuan Chye

PRIME Minister Najib Razak is being cavalier with taxpayers’ money in making MIC president G Palanivel a full minister. His promotion from deputy minister will incur increases in Palanivel’s salary, perks, claims and pension – and the rakyat will be paying for them. Is it justifiable?

The MIC has only four Members of Parliament, but it now has a line-up of three ministers and two deputy ministers. How is that proportionate? If T Murugiah had not lost his senatorship last April and thereby his deputy minister position, there would be three MIC deputy ministers now.

It’s surprising Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa have not uttered a squeak about this. Which reinforces the general perception that Perkasa fights shy of criticizing the ruling party and may actually be linked to it, despite claims to the contrary.

Why do I say the MIC now has three ministers?, you ask. Well, let’s not forget Samy Vellu. Less than eight months ago, he was appointed – also by Najib – to be Malaysia’s special envoy to India and South Asia with ministerial status (my italics). That was apparently his reward for stepping down as MIC president. It was to give him face through a dignified exit. But why was that necessary?

I raised questions about it then. I asked why the MIC should get another ministerial position after its poor performance at the last general election (GE). Where is the regard for values if rewards are given when they are not deserved?

Now Najib has further displayed this lack of values by giving a third ministerial position to a party that has performed miserably. So, to answer my own question about whether it’s right to make Palanivel a minister, I say unequivocally, “No.”

What purpose is served by promoting Palanivel?

According to Najib: “I want to return to the era of Abdul Razak where there were two Indian ministers in the Cabinet.” Is that all? Just because he wants it? Where’s the good reason? It sounds almost as whimsical and flippant as saying Abdul Razak was his father and therefore he must emulate the latter.

He also says the decision proves that the Government is committed to the Indian community and intends to work closely with them; and giving them another minister is giving them the opportunity to play an even more effective role.

What, pray tell, is that “role”?

If you suspect it is to support Barisan Nasional (BN) at the next GE, you would probably be right. Najib is clearly trying to win Indian votes with this move. But if public funds have to be incurred for him to do that, it cannot be proper. Why should taxpayers’ money be used to keep BN in power? BN is only the government of the day; it cannot use public resources to improve its chances of getting re-elected.

Najib may also feel that Palanivel should hold the same rank as MIC’s deputy president, S Subramaniam, who is already Human Resources Minister. But it is not Najib’s duty to give Palanivel face by putting him on ministerial par with his deputy. Palanivel must, first of all, deserve the position.

The question is, does he?

He was not duly elected at the 2008 general election. He in fact lost his Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat. And when it came time for a by-election for that same seat in 2010 – because the PKR candidate who had defeated him died while in office – he was not chosen to be the candidate. Instead, a much junior MIC member, P Kamalanathan, was selected. What did that signify?

It seems at the time, Najib himself did not favor Palanivel, and for a good reason: Palanivel was not liked by his constituents when he was the MP there; they said he was seldom seen in the vicinity.

Nonetheless, when the by-election was over, Najib made Palanivel a deputy minister in the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry. This was apparently both consolation for his being bypassed as Hulu Selangor candidate and preparation for his takeover as MIC chief.

Najib accomplished this by using the backdoor method of making him a senator first. This was the same method he employed to make ministers out of other politicians openly rejected by the rakyat in 2008, like Koh Tsu Koon and Shahrizat Abdul Jalil; and also to make deputy ministers out of election losers Awang Adek Hussein and Chew Mei Fun.

Bringing back losers in this unsatisfactory manner has made Najib’s practice questionable. The same goes for his appointment of Palanivel as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Besides, why do we need yet another Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department when there are already five – Koh, Nazri Aziz, Nor Mohamad Yakcop, Jamil Khir Baharom and Idris Jala? Is there so much work to go round for six?

What positive effect will his appointment have on the public interest? How will he better serve the rakyat when he was a disappointment to his Hulu Selangor constituents?

Such considerations, however, don’t seem to matter to Najib. What matters most is the Indian vote. He probably sensed that he had lost some Indian support after the unpopular month-long detention of the six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members under the Emergency Ordinance (EO). Making the offer to Palanivel is his attempt to salvage the loss.

The timing tells it all.

First, Subramaniam (on July 27) and then Palanivel (on July 28) publicly called for the PSM 6’s release. “I spoke to the Prime Minister several days ago and asked him to release them,” Palanivel said, as if to declare that the PM would listen to him. Then on July 29, the PSM 6 were actually released.

This made it look like the MIC could take credit for the release of the PSM 6, which would go down well not only with Indians but other Malaysians who had expressed outrage at the detention. But knowing how our wayang politics works, we may not be wrong in thinking that the release decision had already been made before the MIC’s appeals.

After all, why did Subramaniam and Palanivel choose to speak up only a month after the six were detained? Why did they not speak up when the arrest was first made of the six and 24 others on June 26 on suspicion of “waging war against the King” and “resurrecting Communism”? Why did they not come out then to say that such a suspicion was ridiculous? They kept quiet; their silence was an endorsement. They were complicit to the arrests as partners of the ruling regime.

Be that as it may, on July 30, at the MIC’s general assembly, Najib announced making Palanivel a minister. That being the day after the PSM 6’s release, it was obviously calculated to add to the feel-good momentum. As a result, Najib’s ratings might well go up, and those of the MIC’s as well.

But before Indians exult and decide to swing back to BN, what they might need to ask is how they will benefit from this. As minister, will Palanivel dare to speak up for them when at his own party’s general assembly last weekend, delegates were directed not to discuss the Interlok issue? When it comes to the big issues, will he be able to stand up to big brother Umno or just be a “running dog” doing its bidding?

And as for the PSM 6, the story is not yet over. Five days after their release, they were charged for being in possession of subversive documents, and will be tried together with the other 24.

Perhaps Palanivel’s first test as minister should be talking to the Prime Minister and asking him to drop the charges. Let’s see how far he can get with that. If he succeeds, then we can truly say that he deserves being made a minister. And that taxpayers’ money is being wisely spent.

*The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer.

Thursday 4 August 2011

2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Malaysia vs Singapore

2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Malaysia vs Singapore

Date: Thursday, 28/7/2011

Time: 8.03pm

Venue: Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kualal Lumpur

Breathtaking isn’t it? More than 85k Malaysian supporters thronghed the stadium to give moral support to our football team.

I was totally stunned and speechless when I enter the stadium. I’ve never seen such a huge crowd in my life! It’s my first time to watch a football match and to be in that stadium.

I felt so Malaysian at that moment. Everyone shared the same hope and dream, to see Malaysia win the match. And more than 85k people stood up and sing Negaraku as one. Some were tearing including me.

We lost the match but I am still proud of Harimau Malaya. No doubt.