Civil society at its most honest

Oh look! The posters are all identical.
Siapa dalang
I wonder?

I was close to being one of the people boo-ed leaving the Bar Council today. Because of other commitments, I chose not to attend the Bar Council's forum on conversion to Islam. You can read about what happened HERE.

I am very saddened by the turn of events and that as a society we are not matured enough to accept open debate. How do we tell these so called NGOs that dialog does not necessarily mean disrespect? I wonder what is it that they think the Bar Council seeks to do that is so blasphemous that it deserves Molotov cocktails and threats of violence.

Many of my Muslim friends are just as clueless as to why all the ruckus and are pretty embarrassed by the whole thing. And they are right in that it does nothing for the public perception of a religion that sincerely advocates peace and goodwill.

Why can’t we talk about religion in this country? Who are we protecting?

How do I offend you if I seek to understand what happens to me/my family if there is a conversion?

Do we have to wait until we have a court case and a media circus before we address any conflict? When emotions run high and tolerance hits a new low.

The Bar Council is right in trying to address issues that have been swept under the carpet for a long time. The people need to know their rights and responsibilities when they still can make decisions - decisions that have major implications on their lives and those around them.

Body snatching and child kidnapping and courts that cannot give recourse because of conflicts of jurisdiction and worrying lacunas - they are unacceptable in country that touts multiculturalism and religious freedom.

Else we should stop our Malaysian Tourism ads. With all the harmonious smiling and holding hands, we’d be sued for misleading the public.

Happy Birthday Al-Bala

You were never this cute. But, you can still try. Looks a little like Boo.

This year the Rabbit refused to pose so you are stuck with a very mengada panda.
Go forth and prosper.

And don't get too plastered. I am not bailing you out. Even if it IS real this time.

More funds needed for Save Sufiah campaign

The Star, 08 August

THE United Kingdom Malay Association (Melayu UK) is still in need of more public contributions to its “Sayangi Sufiah” campaign aimed at helping mathematic genius Sufiah Yusof, 23, lead a better life, Metro reported.

The fund, launched four months ago, has yet to meet its target, and this is hindering the efforts to save the former Oxford University student turned high-class prostitute in London.

According to the daily, Sufiah had agreed to receive treatment in the Islamic way from Kumpulan Penyokong and Pengasuh Profesional (Pisang).

Pisang planning and strategy director Hanafi Abdul Malek said Sufiah’s agreement to counselling and treatment had opened an opportunity to guide her to the right path in life.

“This is a long-term plan, but we do not even have enough money for flight tickets, let alone other expenses,” Melayu UK president Hamidi Abdul Rahman said in its official website.

Monster Says:

Firstly, how la is anybody going to take the name Pisang seriously. With so many sick children, street kids without enough to eat, normal people finding it hard to make ends meet, this is so unworthy. Isn’t there anything they can do to help those who really need to be helped? What a waste of time.

Panda Panda

Here are two photos that made me smile today. Yes, this jaded old bat could still be won over by a cute bear with too much kohl. As the bwadah would say.. A la la..

In the spirit of muhibbah, I am irreverant to all

If you have ever seen a Tamil movie, no wait, a Rajinikanth movie, get ready to suspend all logic.
Be warned. Very dumb la.

We mourn the passing of Alexander Solzhenitsyn

And the world loses another great writer and literature Nobel laureate - Alexander Solzhenitsyn passed away at the age of 89 today at Moscow. More HERE

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Sundays are way to short if you ask me. Like it goes on warp speed and before you know it, its 10pm and the dread of the coming week comfortably settles in the gut. Yes, its bloody sickening.

For once, I didn't do any office work this weekend. Shock shock horror horror.
Oh I could not be asked. The threshold has been breached and frankly my dear, I just don't give a damn.

Instead, I went to Amcorp Mall. Damn, I forgot to take photos. I actually need a phone with a better camera. (To the sesiapa yang sudi: HINT!! Hm, I wonder if it echoes in cyberspace)

Anyway I didn't realise what an Alladin's cave Amcorp can be on Sundays. If you go by the proverb of one man's trash is another man's treasure that is. With stalls that go all the way up to the 3rd floor, its like a carboot sale. Indoors.

From old prints to old boots, butter boats to brass pending, its kinda fascinating to go round the tiny stalls to check out the stuff. Old men with old stamps sit alongside long haired dudes selling "why so serious" batman tees.

Sure you get to see tonnes of junk. But its junk with character!

I mean while I don't have an issue with Vincci and Ikea and Giordano whose mass produced stocks make us look like carbon copies of each other, but somehow just finding an art deco teapot just filled me with a strange sense of wonder.

I suspect its because it is more common to equate modernity with simplify in form now, so something as indulgent as design for design's sake is so startling and vivid. Its WONDERFUL.

But do I want a rusty Singer sewing machine in my living room? Maybe not. But it did remind me of a time when there was still some innocence in me and I was closer to the ground in height.

Tan Hong Ming

Sigh

Malaysian computer for only RM500, laptop for RM1,000

The Star newspaper, today

LUSAKA (Zambia): Three months from now, Malaysians will be able to buy the i-Dola laptop and Jean-i personal computer (PC) at basement prices.

Mimos is now ready to licence the production of the Malaysian computer codenamed Mak Cik, which it took two years to develop. The laptop and PC are named after the Prime Minister and his wife.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the laptop would cost RM1,000, and the PC RM500.

“I have tested the computers and am happy with their performance,” said Dr Ongkili, who was here to attend the Global Southern Africa International Dialogue.

“They are wireless, Internet-based designs and need not be connected to fixed lines. To reduce costs, they do not have hard discs. You use a thumb drive instead.”

It is understood that the i-Dola and Jean-i will be as fast as computers using Intel Pentium 4 processors.

Dr Ongkili said that the King and Queen have already been presented with a pair of i-Dola laptops, which were previewed at the WCIT in Kuala Lumpur recently.

He added that several manufacturers were keen to make the computers, and were targeting selling about a million of them.

“The computers require broadband access and I have told the relevant bodies to speed up the roll-out of broadband coverage,” Dr Ongkili said.

He said the computers are targeted at students, businesses and housewives.

Mlle Monster says:

Muahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Project Mak Cik! HaHaHa He He