Volume of Interactions

Total pwnage

Fri, 16 May 2008 16:56:06 +0800

In geek-speak, "pwnage" refers to an utter humiliation by your opponent. Looks like Datin Rosmah has been completely "pwned" by RPK's latest article.

And Raja Petra Bin Raja Kamarudin now challenges Rosmah for her to deny this allegation. Or maybe she would like to make a police report instead. That is what they normally do anyway when they are not able to reply. Porah Rosmah. Please don't phone my cousin His Highness the Sultan of Selangor. Please don't shout at my cousin His Highness the Sultan of Selangor. The Perak Mufti said that if you do that then you are disrespectful to Islam. You are only the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister who shall never become the Prime Minister of Malaysia. This quarrel is between you and me. Leave my cousin His Highness the Sultan of Selangor out of it.

Not a good idea to insult a man whose cousin happens to your family's worse nemesis. Its hard not to sit down and have a good chuckle over this.

Some would say, Datin Rosmah "self-pwned" herself with this!

Generation Y?

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:22:43 +0800

From an email i received:

The Silent generation, people born before 1946.

The Baby Boomers, people born between 1946 and 1959 .

Generation X, people born between 1960 and 1979.

Generation Y, people born between 1980 and 1995 .

Why do we call the last one generation Y? I did not know, but a caricaturist explains it rather eloquently below:

Kaleebso Liveaboard!

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:17:23 +0800

There are still limited spots left for the liveaboard Pulau Tioman diving trip (6-8 June) on the Kaleebso.

The 2-night dive trip is a liveaboard, and it promises to be great fun! About 10 divers have already registered for the trip.

According to those whom have dived from the Kaleebso before, the matron of the boat is a great, great cook, so be prepared for some amazing feasts!

If you're interested, download the PDF (Kaleebso Pulau Tioman 6th - 8th June 2008.pdf), give them a call, and let Alex/Albert know that Aizuddin sent you. Hope to see you there!

A lawful SIN

Tue, 13 May 2008 10:37:24 +0800

If the BN had a mascot, iconizing all their troubles, it would probably be Khairy Jamaludin. The (in)famous SIN (son-in-law) of the Prime Minister of Malaysia. From the hallowed halls of Oxford to the bedroom of an eligible bachelorette to the seat of power in the august house of Parliament -- his rise has been meteoric. But perhaps, not so enviable.

He's been blamed for everything thats going wrong with the BN. The money politics, the corruption, the "richest unemployed man in Malaysia", the broken toilet flushes in the executive toilet in Putrajaya; all that's evil, good ol' KJ SIN is either responsible for it, or an icon for its representation. A lot to put on the shoulders of a 32 years young man.

Whether he deserves the rilling, its not my place to say. I don't know him at all, and all that i do is, at best, classified as hearsay.

But i do know this: he probably isn't a fool. While it may be argued that everything he's achieved is all about SIN, lets not take away from the fact that SIN or no, clever positioning and politikusing is required to do what he has done. If it was easy, all of us would be SINs. Its not, thats why KJ is the only SIN.

Given that he isn't a fool, he probably has a method to his apparent madness. It would do his opponents well to analyze this method, rather than blindingly responding with outbursts of their own.

Lets not forget that many great men in Malaysian politics, while perhaps not SINs themselves, have displayed moments of extreme brilliance which were, at the time, as roundedly boo'ed as being nothing but hot air and arrogance.

KJ has the potential, that much is obvious. Whether its as a jester and a fool, or perhaps a king-maker or as a king-in-waiting, we will have to see.

Crossing the Divide

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:33:08 +0800

Looks like mass defections are on the cards. If it happens, then BN will fall (and will likely take many years to recover, if at all), and Malaysians will, for the first time in over 50 years, be faced with a new political reality.

Heady, exciting times ahoy.

Yet another NS death

Sun, 11 May 2008 09:59:58 +0800

Pretty soon, acronyms for such things will become valid points of reference.

Yet Another NS Death = YANSD

If it keeps up, perhaps it'll even become a new verb.

"What happened?"
"My daughter was YANSD'ed"

So many have died under the care of the Government. While some may argue, it represents just a fraction of a percentage of those participating, even a single death should be unacceptable.

Malaysia claims to aspire to developed nation status. Well, let me tell you what would happen if something like this were to happen in the US or UK or Australia.

First, there would be a huge outrage by the Press. The newspapers would eat the story alive, fanning the flames of discontent and concern. Thousands of inches of newspaper column would be dedicated to reports, investigations, quotes, statistics and opinions.

In Malaysia, the Press is in the back pocket of the Government. Not a single editorial, no investigative reports, everything tuned down to a matter-of-fact discussion. The Press are the people's FOURTH ESTATE. They should be pulling the strings of public discussion and public opinion.

Second, public outcry over the deaths would lead to, the very least, a suspension of the entire program while an independent investigation takes place. There must be a reason why children are dying under the care of the Government. Negligence? Incompetence? Bad luck?

Its a pure shame Malaysia's National Service sucks as much as it does. Its a bigger shame that we don't seem to care enough to find out why.

Spending on Space

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:36:27 +0800

When Malaysia cut a deal with the Russians during the purchase of the some fighter-planes, a nifty little clause was included to send a Malaysian on a learning visit to the Russian space station. In a swift stroke of a pen, Malaysia bought the most advanced jet in the world, and also entry into outer space.

Its been recently revealed that the trip wasn't a free ride: RM39 mill was spent on a host of associated supporting activities. I can imagine what they are: the early campaign to select the candidate to represent Malaysia, the costs of the experiments conducted in space, the ensuing campaign to ensure Malaysians were kept abreast of everything that happened, and possibly, the post-trip campaign where the experience is being shared.

Was it worth it?

I would argue it was. While the right-wingers among us will argue that the money could have been better used to feed the starving underprivileged, or to subsidise education, or to do a million of other things supposedly better for the "people", it ignores the fact that the act of having a Malaysian in space is good for the people too, albeit in subtler, indirect ways.

Aspirations and dreams. For some, these are fluffy intangibles, unworthy to be compared with the reality of starving children, school-kids without books, or the poor old man left alone to die on the street. But without either, there will be nothing to bring this country to the next level -- a level where, perhaps, children will no longer need to starve, kids will have free textbooks, and social security systems will look after us all when we're old.

Aspirations is the desire to want something. I aspire to be the best in school. I aspire to go to med school. I aspire to be a doctor. I aspire to discover the cure for cancer. Dreams work in a similar way, but usually need a trigger to become active; you don't dream of something you can't imagine. And you don't aspire to something that you think you'll never achieve. By sending a man into space, the Government has given a generation of Malaysians, maybe two if we're lucky, a reason to aspire and dream.

Space, the final frontier. An unimaginable mass of emptiness. The realm of Star Wars, American space shuttles, and Russian space stations. Suddenly, Malaysia is a part of that realm, in our own small way. We have a man in space! Its not the act of putting a man in space which forms the trigger for aspirations and dreams, its the fact that that man is a Malaysian which is.

A generation of youth will have in their minds the same: if he could do it, why can't i? Certainly, nearly everyone will eventually change their minds as they mature (every kid wanted to be an astronaut, even myself, but i ended up dreaming to be a lawyer), but the reach of the mind of something beyond reach has a good chance of leading to a reality that is not too far removed from the objective. If you never aim for the bullseye, you will never hit the target board. A Malaysian in space -- thats the bullseye, big, fat and red, for thousands of Malaysian young.

Of course, none of this can be quantified today. RM39million has essentially been put on an ideal, a hope. Those who would criticize would argue this is false hope. I will say, there is nothing false about hope.

A dream liveaboard

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:49:41 +0800

A underwater photographer's wet dream of a trip, Komodo Photographic Workshop.The living arrangements are luxurious enough to justify the hefty price tag, but the real gem of the trip is the opportunity to learn from award-winning underwater photographer, Gerald Rambert and Kitty Jempson.

She is perfect for those looking for that extra luxury, extravagance and comfort! This special charter for photographers whether new or experienced makes this an even more special. There will be plenty of dedicated camera only rinse tanks for your equipment, charging points and work tables. Of course each suite has an individual computer to allow downloads of the days photos and allows you to edit your work. A competition for the best photo taken on the trip will be held and will be judged at "Visions in the Sea 2008" in London. The prize will be very special and you will have a one in fourteen chance of winning!

Everything for UK$1500, or nearly RM10,000. Gulp. If only i was rich...

Pulau Tenggol, April 08

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:05:38 +0800

It was an interesting learning experience over the weekend as i completed the open water diving certification at Pulau Tenggol, Terengganu. A 2 hour boat ride from the Kuala Dungun jetty, the island is but a small little speck of land; a misleading representation of the splendours it hides underneath the waves in the area surrounding it.

Lots of great dive spots to be had, with some amazing photo ops, some of which i was lucky enough to capture on my Canon G9. Pictures say much more than i ever could, so feast your eyes on the pictorial below.

Pulau Tenggol 08

My first day with the Canon G9

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:46:05 +0800

Picked up the Canon G9 today, and was very pleased with the results of the first shots. Enjoy!

Canon G9

Teman

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:10:09 +0800

Always been a sucker for travel shows. I love to travel, dont really get a chance to do it as much as i would like, so travel shows are the next best thing -- i get to "visit" marvelous destinations around the world without having to leave the comfort of my couch. Less glamourous than actually being there, but beggars can't be choosers!

The hosts of the show, Melissa Maureen (left) and Belinda Chee (right)

So when i heard on FlyFM this morning about a new travel show, "Teman" (well, not new, its in its 2nd season), i was immediately interested. Coupled with the astoundingly mellow voice of one of its hosts, Belinda Chee, and i was sold. I'll be tuning in tonight, 9.30pm, 8tv.

Incoming: Pulau Tenggol!

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:24:13 +0800

A few days away, and i'm getting extremely excited about my first true dive trip. Pulau Tenggol here i come!

http://www.pulautenggol.com/gallery/

Heeeee'ssssss Back!

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:27:14 +0800

Anwar Ibrahim, whom after serving so many years in political exile, has returned to electoral politics. Or, at least, he's eligible to stand for elections now -- it'll say a lot of the party whom will be asked to fall on his (her??) sword to make way for him

At a rally celebrating his return, he made a statement of unnecessary hubris:

"The police chief has asked us to stop so we are stopping, but remain peaceful, because soon we will be running this country," Anwar told the crowd, who jeered police as the event was stopped.

Perhaps it was in the heat of the moment, but its the sort of thing that doesn't sit too well with me. Very confrontational, very in-your-face type of statement. While the statement may have been true, i would have expected a man of his stature to choose his words more carefully.

Anwar's return is probably a good thing for Malaysian politics -- a vacuum of leadership emerged with Dr M's retirement. Malaysia has lacked a leader of true poise and charisma for many years since. To have one such person back in the hallowed halls of Parliament should provide for some very useful debates.

Anwar claims to have sufficient UMNO MPs ready to defect to the Opposition to topple the current government. While this may be in the best interest of his coalition party, it probably isn't in the best interest of Malaysia. Have patience, Anwar, do what you promised the people you would do -- make their lot better, improve their lives and prove to the nation that Pakatan Rakyat can work together and produce results.

Seizing power through a vote of no-confidence does nothing, except create chaos for the country. Asking BN MPs to defect is a betrayal of the trust of those who voted for them and their party. If Pakatan Rakyat delivers upon their promise, then the next election will be yours. Is 4+ years too long to wait? Or are you afraid that many promises made cannot be kept, and a seize for power is a "now or never" deal? Its a lot easier to ride on a crest of popularity and discontent against BN than it is to win the next election through a display of proven results, isn't it?

Age and maturity should have tempered your spirit, Datuk Seri. I'm sad to see that it has not.

An opportunity to walk the talk

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:54:58 +0800

I'm beginning to like this fellow. Brave chap.

Information Minister, Datuk Shabery Cheek, announced that 30-min LIVE shows of Parliamentary proceedings will be broadcast on RTM1 (a reason to actually tune in to this channel again!).

On feedback from MPs over the live telecast, he said many welcomed the move, saying that it was a new era for the democratic parliamentary system and the media.

"This is the real reform mentioned by the Prime Minister. Although it is a small step, we hope the people can start accepting it."

He said although some people were still asking for a live telecast for the full one-hour question time, the cost was too high.

The only problem is that the Information Minister is still thinking in 2-D, when talking about this problem. TV broadcast costs are high, but internet broadcasting costs are not. Why not make full use of web 2.0 technologies to make the impossible, possible?

IDEA: Create a website, a Youtube-clone, if you like. Upload, full, unedited, uncensored footage of each day's Parliamentary Q&A sessions. People can visit the website whenever they want to view the videos, and browse the Archives of past sessions. Extremely low-cost (relatively speaking), extremely convenient (for 9-5 office workers who cant watch RTM during the day), and extremely documentary (archives of previous sessions are worth their weight in gold).

BONUS IDEA: Build a community around the videos. Allow for, unedited, uncensored comments and discussion on each video. Build a forums around the website to allow ppl to debate, discuss and analyze the videos. You want democracy? Freedom of speech is the way to go.

PROTIP IDEA: Get political analysts to be gratis contributors to the website, let them make the analysis of the videos, so that people (the common, lay Malaysian), can understand in plain English (or BM) what it means to the rakyat. In short: get the analysts to blog about the videos. You want an educated society? Help them understand what is going on.

Such a website should cost about less than RM50,000 to setup, and perhaps another RM200-300k a year to maintain (mostly bandwidth costs?). Less than the (probable) cost of a single 30-min LIVE episode on RTM1.

Shabery, you wanted to be forward thinking and progressive and practice the "principles of democracy"? I've just handed the idea to you on a platter.

I'll be forwarding this idea to the esteemed Minister. Lets see if he reads his emails.

Where numbers say more than enough

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:38:48 +0800

I'm sure the leaders of BN already know all of this. Its just a matter of whether they're willing to do anything about it now.

Its now or never, chaps.