My Pride and Joy =)

| at 00:26

Ray Cheong

Ray,
I have alot of faith in you..so..

WRITE..!! Write with reckless abandon.
Strap on your guitar, put your hands on the ivories, purse your lips around your horn, and make music. Make music without any rules, precedent or guidelines. Make music to surprise us all. Make music to show us the depth of human emotion. Make music to make us all feel human.
Don’t worry about the man who says that you must write music that can sell, and then proceed to give you a laundry list of things you need in your music to make it sell. This man has forgotten, and will always forget, that the best music comes not from a predetermined formula, but from the inner depths of human experience.
Lock yourself up in a room, away from such interference. They seek only to make money but they always forget that music as a product is not a formula you keep going back to. They forget that the best-selling music will always be something unpredictable, something fresh, something free from previous norms. No matter how many times they are proven wrong, they will not get it, as they do not understand the beauty and incredible commercial value inherent in constantly creating something new and unheard of.
Write music to pander to these marketing folk and you write without any emotion, without any heart. Like a soul-less zombie writing predictable melodies and meaningless words. And nobody will listen to your music. Except maybe these marketing folk, who only listen with an unnaturally forced optimism and excitement, thinking they can actually will people to buy music. Yes, the music might sell, but only for the briefest of moments before its shallowness makes it sink away without a trace.
Write the words that swirl around in your head like a beautiful nightmare and exorcise your demons. Bring us on your journey into the stories of your sensitive heart.
Don’t worry about the man who will criticise your work. Don’t worry about the man who will say your work “does not sound Malaysian” and then refer you to some really old-fashioned melody that was popular when he was younger.
He is trying very hard to hold on to what he knows is safe, forgetting that when he was humming his favourite melodies, the elder generation then was criticising him as well, saying the music “does not sound Malaysian”. Don’t worry about “sounding Malaysian”. Firstly, who knows what that sound really is? The best writers in the world do not wake up saying “I gotta sound American” or “I gotta be British”. They write for the world. They write something the world will love.
Don’t worry about the man who says that you have forgotten your culture. As they falsely believe culture is a concept that doesn’t move and only revolves around the imagery and sounds of a certain narrow time period in past Malaysia. They don’t realise that culture evolves, and will always progress. They perceive culture as something that they only know, forgetting that our culture and our history go hundreds of years back and unforeseen hundreds of years into the future. Who is to say that our culture must be stuck in some time-warp that only a few people understand?
Never fear. Never doubt what you feel inside. Write so that we may all enjoy the beauty of your creation. And for those who only look for works of art to fit into their stereotype of what they want art to be, they are only scared little beings, worried that their safe world is being threatened, and oblivious to the fact that everyone else has moved forward.
So write. Write with the ultimate fantastically incredibly super-reckless abandon. Write about the gut-wrenching journey of life. So we may ride along your magic carpet of truth and emotions, of truth in emotions. Write so we may all be proud of who we really are: a unique collective of ideals, unmatched and finally deservedly revered across the globe.
Ray, you are one of the reasons I am staying strong and playing this phase of life very hard as being around you puts a smile on my face. So never STOP writing.

Love,
Sharm..=)

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Michelle's "Party" (DUBB)

| at 21:57

OhhMiiiGoosshh OMG OMG..!! Its Michelle's birthday next week on the 3rd of Oct..!! What do I do?? What do I do?? We dun have a venue as all the places she likes to go to is either way too far or way off budget..Recession la now..haiya how how how??Die la..!!
She's soooo picky bout what she gets for her birthday..aiyah I know what to give her already la..3 weeks back I went for some blogger's meet and I am so bloody lucky that I manage to get a GIRL vodka "for girls only" bottle absolutely FREE..!! So DONT drink and Michelle's a bloody alcoholic in the making..ALCO is the ideal gift for her and the cheapo me dun have to spend money as I can give her the GIRL vodka bottle..!!
GIRL VODKA
I made her this last year..!!
Last year I gave her an awesome surprise party and the best chocolate cake money can buy..!! I sorta made a promise that I'll make her cake every year if I am around for her birthday. So.....
This year I'll add some bananas and make it look like :
THIS..!!!!! (hopefully la)

Hmm I doubt we'll get to surprise her this year..so if no party plans works out its ok..nevermind la..we can always go to the Digi Ultimate Birthday Bash which is so happened to be on the same day at Barcelona, Sunway Pyramid and its only RM30 per ticket, I get (1) free drink and (1) goodie bag worth RM50..hmm actually kan I think we'll just do the party there la..so anyone wanna join just go there..Easier..dun need to plan plan all..Let people plan for us..!! Hahahaha
*smiles*

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Bugger OFF..!!

| at 00:16

To certain people who dont like reading my blog, one quick advice. Fucking buzz off. No one forced you to come back almost everyday and read what I write. Cuz at the end of the day it doesnt matter what you or anybody thinks. I couldnt care less and I dun give two fucks bout what you or your little-whiny-good-for-nothing-pea-brain has to say.

See this?? See this??

Take that BITCH..!!
Now BUGGER OFF wont ya??
Save your comments and thoughts to yourself or maybe even open up a new blog to be against me. I promise you I'll link it here. If you really have nothing to do, then go screw yourself. Thats all now. Hope you have a great day.
PS : I can see ur bloody IP address on my records everyday. Get a life wont ya??
Thanks and now you can FO(fuck off)
*smiles*

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Ray Cheong & Vandal The Urban Camper in Blue Wednesday @ The Annexe Gallery, Central Market

| at 21:12

Hey guys, as you guys know I have been managing Ray Cheong for sometime now. So come this October 2009, he'll be having his next gig at The Annexe Gallery. Stated below are all the info on his upcoming gig at The Annexe :
Vandal The Urban Camper

Ray Cheong

Host : The Annexe Gallery
Type : Music/arts - Concert
Network : Global
Price : Admission Free
Date : Wednesday, 07 October 2009
Time : 20:30 - 23:30
Location : The Annexe Gallery, Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi, KL

BLUE WEDNESDAY #1:

Ray Cheong + Vandal The Urban Camper Music Performance

FreeBlue Wednesday is a new series of monthly music performances proudly presented by The Annexe Gallery, with the support of Central Market, to provide a platform for music acts to reach out to a wider audience. Every month Blue Wednesday will feature two music acts of any genre, playing a 40-minute set apiece.

For the first installment of Blue Wednesday, we are delighted to present Canadian nomadic rapper Vandal The Urban Camper and Ray Cheong.

+ABOUT THE MUSIC ACTS RAY CHEONG

Ray Cheong has a voice as true as a bell, world-weary as a Charlie Chaplin smile, as broken as a heart. Hailing from Penang, Ray has performed both as a solo artiste and with his band on numerous stages including the “U-Countdown 2007 New Year’s Eve Concert” with famous Taiwan artistes, Project OMG, KL GP Couture and Cusine Festival, No Black Tie and more. Ray was winner of Digi Celebriteen Singing Competition 2006 and was featured as one of CLEO magazine’s 50 most eligible bachelors. His music is a funky blend of bluesy pop rock that has drawn comparisons with John Mayer and Ben Harper.Visit http://amp.channelv.com/raycheong

+VANDAL THE URBAN CAMPER

What do you get when you mix traveling, hip hop and an abundance of great ideas? Vandal The Urban Camper. With his unique approach to musical life Jason, better known as ‘Vandal’, has accomplished a great deal since finding his passion for hip hop during the dawn of the 90s. Vandal’s acclaimed debut “The Nomadic Addict” landed him a distribution deal with EMI Malaysia, was voted a Top 10 album of 2003 by Eye Magazine’s Errol Nazareth in Toronto, and landed him an Asian Tour with DJ Dopey & Symbolik. Vandal formed the collective “The Diplomats International” in Jakarta in 2006 and after the release of 4 Mixtapes has just launched DiploDangerous (’08). The group was nominated for JunkSounds 2008 awards and won Best International Act 2008 at the VIMA awards. Vandal also garnered a spot on the Juice Cool List 2008 and holds a monthly Emcee battle event called Think You Got Skillz. Vandal’s latest release, ‘The Rebirth of a Classic Obsession’, evolves into a complex disc and evokes images of the exotic and the familiar, illustrating cinematically the concept of Urban Camping. Visit http://www.myspace.com/vandigital

So you guys out there who wants to catch Ray's performance again, do drop by and we'll be there to greet you..!! See you all on the 7th of Oct..!!!

*smiles*

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Visionary Reminder

| at 01:39

I came across a very interesting article written by Hussien Hamid. An article that remided me why I always looked up to this man, our former DPM. Here goes...
Anwar Ibrahim was born in August 1947. Me in October 1947. Two months separates us at birth-enough for me to be able to say that he is older, but possibly two or three lifetimes separates us knowing what he has gone through in his life.
I remember the time when I wanted to meet up with him to find out what he was doing with his life. He was then teaching at one of the shop houses along Jalan Pantai – possible with Adabi if I am not mistaken. I did find him and he was indeed teaching and in slippers. At home that evening I casually told my father that I had met Anwar that afternoon. My father was then Director of CID. He stopped, looked at me and said sternly “Engkau tak ada kerja lain?” Whenever my father uses “engkau” when addressing me I knew that he was not amused. And he then went on to lecture me as to why it would be in my best interest to keep away from Anwar!
Then I was away in Australia for a while and he became DPM. I was at Ampang Shopping center with my Family patiently letting my kids wander around Toy R Us. As we walked up to the counter to pay there was Anwar. We hug and he smiled that smile that light up his whole face and then he was gone again out of my life for a few more years. But always the familiarity of old classmates made for easy banter every time we meet.
Then this time he was away for a while – six years I think – as the British like to say – At her Majesty’s pleasure in Sungai Buloh. I was with one of UMNO ex Ketua Bahgian who had joined Keadilan when we heard that Anwar had been released and was at home. My friend wanted to immediately head for Anwar’s house in Damansara to pay his respect. Would I like to come along? He asked. I said ok. We arrived and there were people everywhere. We got into line and waited our turn. We were told that Anwar was not well – that he was sitting down and that anytime he might need to rest. One hour of waiting in line I eventually stood in front of him. He looked up from his chair, again with that smile of his, stood up and gave me a hug oblivious to what pain he must have felt –we talked for a few seconds and mindful of the others waiting to see him, I excused myself and walked on.
The last time I saw him was at a class get together in Bangsar – at Fauzi’s house, a school mate of ours who was the host – a few years back. As always his arrival was greeted with good nature ribbing and for the son of one of our classmates who had not seen Anwar before – that was a real treat. We sat and talked and I could see that age had caught up with all of us – Anwar included. He looked not as robust as I though he would be- after all he has always looked good whenever he was on TV and photographed well. But sitting beside me he looked vulnerable.
Was the pressure of living constantly under public and media gaze getting to him? Was UMNO getting to him? I could not imagine what he had to go through on a daily basis in what he chose to do – POLITICS. It is one thing to be DPM where everything is laid out for you, another to be in the opposition. He constantly referred to Azizah in conversation with us and we could see that Family meant a great deal with him. As we talked I found myself thinking what more has he got to endure before his work is done. I did not envy the situation he was in.
But he had no regrets. No wanting to take his pound of flesh from those that have done him ill. A more spirited discourse came from him when we talked about Mahathir – but either he was in control of himself or that he did not think it worth his while to think to much of times gone by. The present was what mattered.
At 63 I will not run if I can walk. Stand if I can sit. Talk if I can be quite. But Anwar has chosen the path less traveled. This path requires an uncommon resolve to move relentlessly ahead no matter what. He stands in front of crowds everyday. He meets more people then he can remember everyday and all this he does with a willingness that belittle his age. He could be anywhere he wants to be in the world and be welcomed by world leaders and acquaintances. He could be in business and be rich beyond our wildest dreams. Instead he chose to serve the nation. He chose to take us to the next election because if Anwar does not do so, who will take us? I am sure sometimes in his moment of solitude he must question his capacity to physically last the distance but his commitment to our cause is great. That will see him through and he has said that Azizah has done enough while he was away.
This is a good man. As we all know he cannot sing well, neither can he dance well even if his life depended on it but he is decent man. I wish Najib and UMNO will do battle with him on a level playing filed. I wish they could have enough compassion in their hearts to accept that Anwar had gone though more that a baptism of fire – a baptism that neither Najib or Mahyuddin could ever imagine or endure. But then it that would be like asking Bush to go fight Saddam one on one. No shock or awe, no overwhelming force meeting defenseless people, no doctrine of Rapid Dominance, no weapon of mass destruction on stand by just in case they are needed….none of the above. Bush would never survive.
We know that Anwar was with UMNO many years back. We do not know what he will be in the future. But this I know now. He and the other leaders in Pakatan Rakyat are the leaders we now have to lead us to the next General Election and they give us our best hope for a new beginning – without an UMNO that has already abused the trust we Malays placed in them many times over, without a corrupt PDRM, a cowered MACC, without a Government that steals from its people, without a Judiciary that does the bidding of its Political masters, without many of the injustices and unfairness that we now have. Are these not reason enough for us to give them the opportunity to do so?
AND this why we should take chances and let our actions take its cause..!! LOVE YOU, our former DPM who in my opinion should our PM..!!!

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Dont We Just Love Malaysia??

| at 15:57

Its amazing how we fellow Malaysians choose to overlook how certain parties go through pain and sufferings in order to keep other people or themselves happy. Dont get me wrong. I am just making a general statement. I am a Malaysian too, just that am not a proud one. Lately it has been in the news that prices of having Indonesian maids have been increased to double the amount and also be given a day off every week. Almost every maid employer seemed to be getting a "heart attack" and making a big hoo-haa. If you ask me, I'd say.."What so wrong in that??".
These are the people who clean up the mess we make, wipe the ass of our kids when we are too busy for our own good at work, cook for us 3 times a day and making sure everything is in order as we cant do that ourselves. These are the very same people who live their loved ones at home not out of choice. Its because they HAVE to in order to put food on the table.
If we can give the Filipino maids that previllage like 15 years ago, why not the Indonesians?? Arent they all doing the same thing?? So much for equality. People who are complaining so much, in my opinion should just shut the fuck up and just try understanding a little. Please realise that thes e foreign workers are doing things that we choose not to do.
When we work in the office, working an hour late is a big no-no. How bout these maids?? They work like all the time 7 days a week. Would you want a job that pays peanuts but requires you to be on work-alert mode all the time??
When the alarm clock goes off at 8, we start cursing and swearing as most of us have to go to our routine 9 to 5 jobs. How about our maids?? Some wake up as early as 4am. For what?? To wash their bloody employers car or shall I say carS. I mean would any of you wanna wake up to splashing cold water all the time?? Worst things worst, some of these maids who works for us from as early at 4 am till as late as 2 am.
People are always told to treat each other with respect but how many of us actually do that?? After all the hard labour and with shitty pay of RM450, they still get yelled and barked at. Is this really fair?? So ladies out there who have maids why not, NOT buy that LV or COACH bag and pay your maid a little more as the amount spent to pay your maid for a year would be lesser than half a LV bag..!! and and and your husbands would "LOVE" you more..!!!
You man can probably cut down on that drinking and ciggy by just a lil tad bit then you wouldnt BITCH too much bout spending RM 200 more for the ones who are bringing up your children.
At the end of the day, from my point of view, I feel that it just bow's down to one thing..maids are merely a form of modern day slavery..!! So there you go.

**SMILES**

ps : sorry with the questions after questions sentences..!! Cant make too obvious statements now...:)

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Happy Birthday RAY

| at 16:02

A very good friend of mine celebrated his 23rd birthday recently...It was the best one yet cuz we gave 3..yes not 1 but 3 surprises at 3 different point of time just for him with regards to his special day.The mastermind for this was obviously ME..!! I was assisted by Isabelle and Li..!! (dont know what I'd do without them)
CAST
The BRAIN, Li
Party pooper, Belle
I am Sharm *its my blog so I choose not to be labelled*
Birthday Boy, Ray-Gay

DAY 1(Tuesday)
It started off on the eve of his birthday and birthday boy, Ray as moody as always was somehow coaxed by us to go for dinner. Before going for dinner Li and I hid his 1st birthday present at his place. Ok lets be honest here, it was just a Fleet Foxes CD hid behind a frame. Hahahaha there's no other place in his house to hide anything.
So we took him later on to wondermilk and this made the big little boy happy. We also didnt forget to tell him that we all would not be able to spend his birthday with him. Li has work..Belle has dance class and me, Sharm has class and work later on. He said it ok but haha there's more to come. When he got home I made him look for the cd and the soon-to-be birthday boy was superbly happy..!! This were his exact words "Oh god thank u so much! The best cd ever!"
yummy cupcakes

DAY 2(Wednesday)
Li being as smart as she always is decided to get Ray a Lomo camera..people who dont know what a Lomo cam is, please google it up. Lots of info there. Oh oh I got him a Mario soft toy. According to Ray who just totally adores soft toys, he claims that guys/men who dont admit they LOVE soft toys are not really men to start with.
So we got him Lomo, wrapped it up and called him out for dinner. Like always being grumpy cuz he didnt get enough sleep, Ray somehow agreed. But he didnt want to go far, he just wore his ah-pek-cum-fisherman-pants and a i-wear-this-to-sleep-tshirt to the nearest economy rice shop just below his condo. The moment Belle and I saw him we just said to ourselves "Damn..!! Perfect outfit..!!" After lunch i had to fake and ask Belle to drop me off at college (kononnya I had class). Told Ray to follow so Belle doesnt have to drive back alone. being so stoopidly gullible, he agreed..!!
the outfit for the day
We got him to the car and the moment he saw Mario he yelled "OMG, YOU GOT ME MARIOOOOOOOO..!!" (those who knows Ray personally can already imagine the whole scenario in your heads). Then he got into the car and we lock the doors. Told him to open up his other gift. "OHHMYYGOODDD..!! You guys GOT me a LOMO cam??? Ahhhhh..!! NNoooo..!!! AAAhhhh..!! WTF WTF WTF wei..!!!" He was sooooo happy that we got his attention for at least half an hour off track. Hahaha when he looked up we were already in Gombak and for one moment he thought we were taking him to Genting. We might have but he looks too ugly to be seen with in places like Genting..!! Hahaha
Ray & his new found friend Mario
what's in the box?? what's in the box??!!
its a LOMO..!!
Mario meet Lomo
The supposed destination was to be some waterfall at Ulu Yam but me being the good navigator we ended up lost in Rawang. Somehow we got to the Templar's Waterfall and it way way more beautiful that the one in Ulu Yam. When we got there, birthday boy was nagging like a bitch but thank god Li, Belle and I are all so used to this and we ignored him. We reached the swimming spot of the waterfall and decided its the best spot and apa lagi, masuk main air la..!!
Waterfall!!
Three muskateers + Li behind the camera
we were lost
Ray and his "manly" picnic basket..!!
Ray at his head and shoulders ad mode
"I'm so happy..!!"
Waterfall was so clean and beautiful that it got us all so rejuvenated. To get to the waterfall it took us almost an hour but to get back only 25 minutes. WTF right?? Haha
We got home and a few other friends came over to party. The ever so sweet Samantha made awesome chocolate cake(which I never had the chance to taste). Aldous and friend brought happiness to Ray in their own way which in order to understand you have to be there yourselves.Finally birthday song were sang and cake were cut and everyone was happy..So it was HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY..!!
Being the friends that we were, party doesnt stop there. We want everyone important to Ray to be there as we all love him so much. New plans were made.
Sam's masterpeice
"Aaaahhhahahahahahahahaha!!!"
Tradition
"Happy" people

DAY 3(Saturday)
Ash, Ray's bestest friend, housemate, gay partner and soulmate planned post birthday surprise party for Ray(see we told you we love him). I had to take him out for the day and just to make sure no blunder was made like last year ( in 2008, Ray came back early and surprise were not for him but for his friends who were planning it for him all thanks to Lionel for not being able to keep him out long enough). This time around I took him to Genting. Knowing how hyper he can get I engaged help from Sabin and Pei Shern..!! Man it was a tiring and crazy day. Having to put up with the big little boy was no easy task.
Hahaha when we got back, Ash left the gates open and Ray was so angrily walking into the house nagging how irresponsible Ash is at times and WALAH..!! SURPRISE..!! In awe, the only thing that confused Ray could say was "Eh, whats this?? Whose birthday??!!" Hahaha oh well party started and seeing so many old friends there did make his day. Everyone just had fun and also had the chance to see Ray perform. Am so happy everything turn out well. Thanks guys for everything.
This was what left at the end of the day..!!

Thats all for now..!!
(fark after all what we did, Ray still didnt want to take Li and I to Kayu for limau ais and cendol,IDIOT)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHINAMAN..!!!

We all LOVE you..!!

PS : more pictures after I find out whose camera we were using to take pics at the REAL surprise party..!!

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Money brings out the stupidity in the smartest of people

| at 15:54

Tell me who would be stupid enough to go and buy a bank in Indonesia? You tell me who would do that? Then if that was not enough you go and take a running jump into Pakistan and buy another bank there. But wait there is more! While they are doing that why not pick up a bank in Vietnam. In all they spent an incredible RM10.8 billion to acquire these three banks. Who would be stupid enough to do this when Maybank has been advise AGAINST making the purchase? Maybank belongs to the Government and so they will take instructions from the Government. Taking instructions from a Government run by idiots who thinks that Maybank is also Maybank. So in essence it is the Barisan Government that is stupid enough to go and buy three Banks in Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam for RM10.8 billion.

Now Malayan Banking has confirmed that it lost RM2 billion in this escapade. Now which UMNO guy made a few hundred million in commission from these purchases? Who are the usual suspects? Najib as the Minister of Finance has to be suspect number one – but if MACC does the questioning they will say that he is just ‘helping with inquires’. But Najib must beware that even helping with inquiries can be dangerous if Muhyiddin has anything to do about it.Najib must have been advised by that Nor Mohamed Yaacob because he had experience of losing more billion when he was with Bank Negara – around RM30 billion in fact.

This latest escapades would have been hysterically funny if it had happened in one of those tin pot African country where you would need half the money in the Banks just to buy a loaf of bread. And of course as far as Najib is concern this is a ‘victimless crime’ because it does no physical harm to any person or property, or to which was in fact consented, and is currently illegal if based on statutory laws. As victimless as PKFZ and all those plundering of the nation resources. Well Najib I got news for you. The Rakyat now knows that in the end they pay !! That RM37.23 million Aidilfitri bonus for Felda – we all pay. That RN500 million for Razak Baginda – we pay. Soon you will be paying for this that you are now making the Rakyat pay…and then it will be Good Night for you.

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Home Minister's ass got swiped...by Rev..!!!

| at 02:13

The home minister himself
Intergration babeh..!!

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism & Taoism wants the police to be consistent, fair, just and rational in carrying out their duties, regardless of religion, ethnicity, culture, gender or political connection.“There must be one rule for all Malaysians,” its president Rev. Dr Thomas Philips said in a statement yesterday.

The council is concerned over different measures taken by the police over two incidents namely the cow head incident on Aug 28th in Shah Alam and the would-be candlelight vigil in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka on Sept 5th.In the first incident, police stood by while the demonstrators desecrated a cow head and made seditious speeches in connection to the relocation of a Hindu temple to a predominately Malay-Muslim area, while in the latter, police acted strongly against the vigilers, said Philips.

Cows are considered sacred by Hindus.“Also, Malaysiakini has now been warned by MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) not to make the video showing the terrible acts in the Shah Alam incident available for viewing to their readers,” he said, adding that removing the video will not unmake the act.“We must surely first prevent the act and the video would not have existed,” he said.

Philips said the cow head incident is not an isolated case, highlighting the recent desecration of the Holy Eucharist in a church where the consecrated bread was taken and spat out by two reporters from Al Islam magazine.“Such irreverent and sacrilegious conduct should not be condoned and allowed to be repeated with impunity. The same rules must apply to all,” he said in the statement.

Philips also took a swipe at Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for meeting with the organisers of the cow head protesters, saying it sent the wrong signal to the people.Philips also said that anyone who incites ill feelings amongst religious communities, denigrates any religion, desecrates the religious symbols of any religion or threatens to commit violence against others must be promptly deterred and held accountable.“They must face charges and be given a fair trial in a court of law. Sacrilegious acts committed by adherents of any one religion upon another religion must never be condoned,” he said.

-am so proud of you Rev. Dr. Thomas Philips-

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No Double Standards in Religion

| at 01:54

A very close friend of mine has an awesome person as her dad. So he made a press statement on Monday and I am posting this up as its really good and some would even call it "mind blasting"..this is a copied article from Malaysia Today.
________________________


No double standards on religion
Posted by admin
Monday, 07 September 2009 19:07

MCCBCHST (Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism & Taoism) notes with deep concern that the cowhead incident in Shah Alam is not an isolated case. Another recent example of this kind of insensitivity was when the Holy Eucharist was desecrated when certain persons went to a church, took the consecrated bread and spewed it out.

Such irreverent and sacrilegious conduct should not be condoned and allowed to be repeated with impunity. In seating the organisers of the recent demonstration in Shah Alam to his right and left during his press conference, the home affairs minister seemed to have bestowed honour to the perpetrators of a gravely offensive and dangerous event whereby seditious speeches accompanied by the stepping on the severed head of the cow were made. What signals would this send to the people?

Not surprisingly, therefore, the same disrespectful, unruly and unwilling to listen behaviour on the part of some rendered the town hall meeting between the Menteri Besar and Section 23 residents to discuss the issue on September 5 2009 unmanageable and unproductive.The same rules must apply to all.

MCCBCHST is concerned that wheareas in the August 28 2009 Shah Alam incident the police had stood by while the demonstrators desecrated the cow head and made seditious speeches, the police acted strongly against would-be candlelight vigilers in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka on September 5 2009.Also, Malaysiakini has now been warned by MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) not to make the video showing the terrible acts in the Shah Alam incident available for viewing to their readers. Thinking Malaysians will rightly raise the question: Which comes first- the act or the video which exposes the act? How do we as a country go about resolving our problems? In this case, stopping the video of the act will not unmake the act. We must surely first prevent the act and the video would not have existed.

For the sake and good of all Malaysians and peace and order in Malaysia, consistent, fair, just and rational measures should be applied regardless of religion, ethnicity, culture, gender or political connection.There must be one rule for all Malaysians.

All who incite ill feelings amongst religious communities, denigrate any religion, desecrate the religious symbols of any religion or threaten to commit violence against others must be promptly deterred and held accountable. They must face charges and given a fair trial in a court of law.

Sacrilegious acts committed by adherents of any one religion upon another religion must never be condoned. We hold to the principle that all human beings and communities have a sacred right of freedom of choice as far as their religious belief and practice is concerned.We stand with Malaysians of all religious and political persuasions who were outraged by the flagrant disregard for the sensitivities of others shown by the Shah Alam demonstrators.

We welcome the partnership of all Malaysians of goodwill. Together we can weather the mischief and bigotry of those who seek to drive a wedge between us and divide rather than unite the people of this land.

We Malaysians live in a pluralistic society and accordingly we must respect our neighbours and endeavour to learn about their beliefs, customs and sentiments. It is upon such understanding of others and what is dear to them that our nation can be firmly rooted and grow strong and united.

The way to manage our differences is not by creating enclaves whereby Malaysians will be segregated and separated from one another but through understanding and respect. Let us live together next to one another rather than to live apart. Each succeeding generation of Malaysians should grow closer rather than to be pulled apart.

The site chosen in Section 23 of Shah Alam for the Hindu temple to be relocated to complies with local government conditions. It is over 300 meters away from any housing area, six times more than the 50-meter requirement. If the authorities accept the objection to it by certain quarters, the social dynamics of Malaysian life will be affected and the consequence on national integration will be very serious indeed.

We must not subscribe to the view of thinking about Malaysians as majorities and minorities, and majorities versus minorities.

MCCBCHST therefore calls upon all Malaysians of goodwill to be in earnest prayer for the peaceful and just resolution of the issue. Those in authority at the community, religious and governmental level must be firm to unequivocally reject unreasonable, unfair and anti-social behaviour and demand.

Rev. Dr Thomas Philips
MCCBCHST President
Petaling Jaya
__________________________________________

Rev. Dr. Thomas Philips, I just wanna say am so proud of you and regardless of what happens, you'll have my support...!!


*smiles*

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D'ULTIMATE BIRTHDAY BASH BY DIGI

| at 20:04

Hey you party peeps out there, if your birthday or your best friend's birthday falls between October 1st to December 31st 09, and you are looking out for the perfect party, accustomed entirely to celebrate your special day, you should check out the D'Ultimate Birthday Bash brought to you by DIGI right now..!!

Venue: Bar Celona, Sunway Piramid
Date: 3rd October 2009
Celebrities artists :DJ Joey G, the multi-talented, Hunny Madu, AIM award winner, Liang, and Malaysia 's top percussion group, Kuala Lumpur Drum Corps (KLDC)

Apart from the performances, attendees will get the chance to be photographed by paparazzi-crazed cameraman as you stroll through the ala-hollywood red carpet event entrance in your drop dead gorgeous outfits.
There would be games and many activities in stored on that day, all of you can participate in the "Crack The Code" game and stand a chance to win amazing prizes!!
Just so you know, the Grand Birthday Prize would be an ultimate birthday holiday getaway to a secret and exotic location. It has also come to our attention that there are literally presents for everyone! Besides that, make a wish to win Rm3,000.00 worth of birthday treats by taking part in Digi "Ultimate Birthday Wish" contest at http://www.blogger.com/www.digi.com.my/ubb to win a glamorous Birthday Treat worth Rm3,000.00 at D'Ultimate Bitrhday Bash by DIGI!!


2 X Grand Prizes worth Rm3,000.00 each, including:
1) 10 exclusive VIP invites for you and your friends to "D'Ultimate Birthday Bash by DIGI"
2) 10 Goodie Bags for you and your friends
3) Rm1,000.00 birthday "ang-pow"
4) Make-over by SNIPS
5) Drinks on the house
6) U2 Watch
7) Birthday cake from Kings Confectionary
8) Return chauffeur service for you to the party!

10 X Consolation prizes worth Rm300.00, including:
1) 2 invites to "D'Ultimate Birthday Bash by DIGI"
2) 2 Goodie Bags worth Rm200.005 X Mystery Weekly Prizes for 3rd, 8th, 38th and 88th and 138th entries of the week!

Tickets for the event are priced at Rm30.00 nett for all DIGI users. If you are a DIGI user and your birthday falls either on October, November or December, you can purchase your ticket at Rm20.00 only..!! Isnt that great?? All tickets are inclusive for (1) free drink and (1) goodie bag worth Rm50.00 .If you are planning a birthday party for your friend, then take advantage of the "buy four(4) tickets and get one(1) free" promotion.

For more information on the event, prizes, ticket sales locations and more, log on to www.digi.com.my/ubb .

So what are you waiting for?? Log on NOW..!!!

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Just coz I look Malay that doesnt make me one

| at 17:53

It was this morning and as it is I was already in a dull mood as I had to go for formal meetings and enquiries as early as 8am in KL. Mind you, travelling by the KTM commuter only means I have to leave by 6.30am. So after the bloody enquiry (which lasted till bout 2 and there were no refreshments served..dammit..!!) I stopped at KL Sentral to grab a bite.
As always in KL Sentral, apa lagi, McDonalds la the fastest and easiest food outlet to get ok tasting food. You cant go wrong with McDonalds now can you?? I ordered the normal cheepo McValue meal that is on promo for only RM7.95 and started to "melahap" on my food. Half way through I had a rude shock when someone came and hit me (ok am adding pepper and salt..tapped me rather roughly on my shoulder). It was a bunch of 5 men holding a clip board and one of them (I supposed he's the leader as he spoke for the lot) spoke. Conversation was like this.
Rude man : Tolong ikut kami ke tepi dik. Nak cakap sikit.
Me : Kenapa pulak bang?? (He looked young so I called him abang)
Rude man : Bulan ramadhan ni kalau tak puasa pun tak payah la nak buat kat tempat public..!!
Me : Bang, saya bukan Melayu la. Saya tak payah puasa.
Rude man : Alasan. Ikut kami please.
Me : Abang, bulan ramadhan ni, tak baik suruh perempuan yang duduk seorang seorang kat McD pergi layan 5 ornag lelaki kat tepi. Tak manis..!! (now TAKE that BITCH)
Rude man : Oh melawan eh?? Mak bapak tak ajar ke kat rumah?? IC mana?? IC, IC mana??
Me : Encik, nak IC saya buat apa? Kalau la IC saya tunjuk saya ni bukan Islam macam mana?? Of all people that you guys can come and check on, why me? Yes I look Malay but does that mean I am one?? Why do you have to be so rude?? Ask me properly and I'll show you. Look around. There are more Malay looking people around who is pratically in their baju kurung and all so why not check on them first.
Rude man : Suka hati kami nak buat apa. Hak kami..!! IC mana??
(so I showed him my IC and I didnt forget to drop my press ID, facial expression changed)
Me : So, encik puas?? Done making the routine checks on random innocent people??
Rude man : Kami tak salah. Kalau mencurigakan kami check.
Me : Saya mencurigakan ke?? Anyways I am not angry just feel that you are all too jumpy and rude. Just so you know I might actually feel embarrassed by your doings. Not expecting people like you to apologise because no point. You'll do the same thing tomorrow to another person anyways. (I smiled)
*suddenly the silence was broken when almost everyone in the McDonalds just stood up and clapped*
Ahh puas hati aku..!! Hahaha well its pretty stupid. Just cuz we're Malay looking doesnt make us one. Readers who are reading this please dont get me wrong. I have many Malay friends and I literally love everyone of them. My blog post is not intended to degrade anyone but am just expressing out an experience that I feel is really STOOOOPID. I mean we live in a country which is super multi-racial. Its only fair if everyone is treated with respect regardless the race and skin colour.
Well my dad always say that everything we do or learn basically comes from home so if we adults do not practice it how would our little ones follow?? Its not just about respecting one another but the fact we should learn to live with each other without prejudice and without analysing.
*Selamat Berpuasa*

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Malaysia's Truth

| at 23:44

If you're looking for an image that captures the conflict between fervent Islam and basic human decency, look no further than the Malaysian city of Shah Alam, about 15 miles west of Kuala Lumpur.
On Friday, a group of about 50 men, agitated by plans to relocate a 150-year-old Hindu temple to their neighborhood, made their feelings clear by staging a protest march from a mosque to a government building. Amidst the usual cries of "Allahu Akbar" and "takbeer," the protesters deposited the freshly severed head of a cow--an animal sacred to Hindus--before the building's gate. The group's leaders made threatening speeches and, perhaps caught up in the spirit of the moment, hammed it up for the cameras, stepping and spitting on the cow's head. The police--who have been known to arrest people for such crimes as attending a candle light vigil or wearing black in support of the opposition--stood by and watched.
Ironically, those scanning the globe for a Muslim-majority country that inspires neither dread nor despair often alight upon Malaysia. Until a few years ago, the Southeast Asian nation boasted the world's tallest building, the iconic 88-story Petronas Towers. Powered by electronics, palm oil and petroleum, Malaysia is the world's 20th-largest exporter, ahead of Sweden, Australia and India. Per capita income, about $14,000 in purchasing parity terms, is about the same as in Argentina. Apart from the obvious prosperity of downtown Kuala Lumpur, the casual visitor notices the comforting trappings of a British colonial past--a parliament, a judiciary, a professional police force.
But most strikingly, Malaysia (along with next-door Indonesia) can claim something increasingly rare in the Muslim world: a large non-Muslim population. About four in 10 Malaysians are Buddhist, Christian, Hindu , Sikh or Confucian. (By contrast, Turkey, the poster-child for an Islam at peace with the 21st century, is 99.8% Muslim.) Recognizing the power of this statistic in our multicultural age, Tourism Malaysia promotes the country's allegedly harmonious blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian communities with an odd but nonetheless catchy slogan: Malaysia, Truly Asia.
The reality, of course, is a lot less sunny. Unlike neighboring Singapore, which shares the same colonial past and ethnic mix--albeit with a Chinese rather than a Malay majority--Malaysia has rejected secularism in favor of a kind of ethnoreligious apartheid that belongs more in a medieval kingdom than in a modern democratic republic.
In Malaysia, Islam is the state religion. Higher education, the bureaucracy and vast swathes of the economy are operated as a kind of spoils system almost exclusively for Malays, whom the state defines as Muslim. Race and religion determine everything from your odds of getting into medical school to the amount you're expected to put down for an apartment. The conversion laws, based on sharia, bring to mind the Eagles' classic "Hotel California": You can check in (to Islam) any time you like, but you can never leave.
Over the past 30 years, encouraged by the government and influenced by the Middle East, Malaysia's growing prosperity has gone hand-in-hand with a heightened piety. But instead of making the country more humane, this has had the opposite effect. Friday's protest was part of a larger pattern. A 32-year-old Malaysian Muslim model, Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, faces a sharia-prescribed caning, suspended at the moment on account of Ramadan, for the crime of drinking a beer. Muslims have been barred from a Black Eyed Peas concert next month sponsored by Guinness. Two years ago, a Muslim-born woman, Lina Joy, failed in her famous eight-year quest to convert to Christianity to marry the man that she loved. (Interfaith marriages are forbidden.) In another high-profile case, Revathi Masoosai, a practicing Hindu, was forcibly separated from her husband and infant daughter and sent to a religious re-education camp after it was discovered that technically she had been born a Muslim.
Taken together, these cases illustrate two issues--both central to the debate about Islam and modernity--that Malaysia is struggling to come to terms with. Can a Muslim majority live with a non-Muslim minority as equals, or must the former be explicitly dominant--in law as well as in day-to-day life? And can Muslims reconcile piety with a culture where the rights of the individual (say, to order a beer) are given precedence over communal beliefs?
To be sure, not all Malays, perhaps not even a majority of the sharia-minded, approve of the acts of boorishness committed in the name of their faith. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has ordered police to take action against the Shah Alam protesters, and members of parliament have cut across racial and party lines to condemn the incident. The English-language Malaysian blogosphere is alight with outrage, much of it Muslim. Nor are questions about secularism and individual rights absent in non-Muslim societies. In recent years, thuggish Hindu groups have developed a penchant for roughing up women in bars and castigating young couples for the high crime of celebrating Valentine's Day. America has yet to come to terms with a woman's right to an abortion.
Nonetheless, only in Muslim-majority lands are religious bigots given such broad leeway by their secular co-religionists. An Indian feminist is apt to laugh in the face of a pious Hindu who tells her that gender relations need to be ordered by the ancient laws of Manu. In America, the so-called new atheists--most prominently Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins--don't need to think twice about ridiculing religious beliefs or savaging the most powerful priest or pastor. But in Malaysia, as elsewhere, secular liberals tend to tip-toe around Muslim religious sensibilities. They wield the word "un-Islamic" as an insult rather than as a compliment. Unless this changes, unless Malaysians can find a way to treat Islam like any other set of ideas, scenes like those in Shah Alam on Friday aren't about to disappear.

PS : I didnt write this.."someone" else did..=D

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Education in tanah airku, Malaysia

| at 14:22

photo curtesy form The Star

Hello again, so it Merdeka today. Did any of you woke up to a different morning feel? Ok not talking about the eve party that caused you hangover and all. Lol. Well I woke up to a pretty disappointing news in the local newspapers. Only yesterday we spoke about 1Malaysia all over the live telecast and on the radio stations (even in my blog). Our politicians claimed that having good education is what made us who we are today. So lets be proud of being a Malaysian!!!! SO NOT..!!
WTF man..!! How can anyone deny anyone to the right of having education?? Its so stupid to wake up and get news like that. This morning news were posted that a seventeen year old girl, Juana Johnson has been literally kicked out of school BECAUSE her parents are not registered as Malaysians. SO WHAT?? Does it make a difference if her parents were Malaysian or not?? Juana Johnson is most certainly Malaysian.
Mr. Minister of Education of Malaysia, sorry to say is a DOOFBAG himself. I might get arrested for sedition but I dont fucking care. Its pretty obvious isnt it that Juana was born in Malaysia and has been a malaysian all her life. Why deny her to education now when the bloody Jabatan Pendidikan allowed her to sit for her UPSR and PMR exams??
What are the ministry or education trying to do?? Applying for cheap publicity?? What happens now? Why make a mockery out of their department?? Its moments and issues like this that makes me embarrassed of the country I am from. Why cant the government of Malaysia be more like the Americans or the British or why go so far we should be more like the Indonesians for this when it comes to education. (I dont wanna bring anything else up)
What I mean is that in countries such as I mention above, the moment a child reaches a certain age, it doesnt matter whether he/she is from that country origin or not, the child is given education and a proper not some paria ones mind you. Thats the most important thing for an individual at that point of their lives.
So today we claimed we have 52 years of independence. We live in harmony. Its actually 52 years of learning how to eat each other up as most of we malaysians are saddist. We feed on other people's misery. It becomes a laughing stock when we see the downfall of another being. Why is this so? Because we were brought up that way. Our forefathers started it, grandfathers practiced it, our fathers showed it to us and now here we are, doing the same thing all over again. 52 years of utter hypocracy and thats 1Malaysia for you. 1Malaysia which trully is the only ONE country or shall I say, ONE country govern by people who denies other people their rights to anything.
Happy Merdeka..!! Malaysia BOLEH..!!
*for the complete write up on Juana Johnson and her plight, look this up http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/31/nation/4622375&sec=nation*

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