Malay Mail "Your Voice Of The Year 2008 Awards"

BLOGGERS!!

Yes, that's right! And since I have a blog too, I'm gonna tumpang glamour with this award and bask in the glory.

Some people in the government who - prior to the 12th General Elections - had called the SoPo bloggers names like "Goblok"  and so on, won't be too pleased. But it's a fact that bloggers and made a significant impact in Malaysian society, and Mat Cendana is thanking the Malay Mail for acknowledging this openly. Below is part of the report in Malay Mail. You may also click on the picture above for more details about this award [Cut and Paste from Malay Mail follows below and until the end]

Undeniably, when the existence of the whole new world of Blogosphere was discovered by Malaysians, it came as a shock to many. The Blogosphere is an unfettered domain where anything and almost everything goes.

Initially treated for contempt or suspicion with its manya- time unchallenged conventions, blogging in Malaysia has grown from its beginnings of being mainly personal musings into a full-bloomed phenomenon unparalleled in 2008, where the poignancy of this group has been acknowledged by all quarters, especially after the general election.

But the voice of bloggers was already being heard in many non-political sectors even before, especially in the advocacy of humanitarian values for the less fortunate. There are individuals and groups who have influenced the ways through which Malaysians can spread the chain of helping others live a better life through sharing their own experiences and promoting awareness.

This is evident in those who advocate breaking down the barriers of the marginalised, such as Persons With Disabilites or People Living with AIDS and even those who share their health experiences, such as breast cancer survivors.

Today, without doubt, blogging has come to be embraced as part of the Malaysian way of life.

Interactivity by using the world’s most accessible medium — the web — has become a norm, bringing with it new dimensions in connecting people, and for the masses to exercise the rights to live in dignity, to inform and to be informed. In pushing for greater freedom of expression and thought — and communicating all these in whatever communities they belong to, Malaysian bloggers have undoubtedly made positive changes to the lives of their fellow men.

Free and fast, blogging evolved from being a youngster’s domain into, the single biggest phenomenon of the year that was. It came of age. For that, Malaysian Bloggers have been chosen as Your Voice of the Year 2008.

Technorati Tags: Malay Mail,Malaysia,Media,Malaysian Bloggers

Miracles in Kuala Terengganu?

"I see dead people"... Haley Joel Osment's line in M. Night Shyamalan's THE SIXTH SENSE is one of the most quoted and well-known cinematic moments - a gripping ghost story, with a stunning finale.

But where would that be on the "Stunned Scale" for political analyst Ong Kian Ming, who had confidently declared this at Lim Kit Siang's blog: ‘PAS to win by 7,000 majority’

Although most people seem to agree that PAS would win this one, no one else would dare stake their credibility like Ong here.  Well, one has to grudgingly admire Ong's temerity in insisting on such a high margin.

For the BN supporters, insisting "there's a 50-50 chance" for Wan Ahmad Farid is probably the most prudent and diplomatic stance. Zubaidah Abu Bakar of the New Straits Times says these are the predictions "from campaigners and pundits. Even party leaders are making safe bets, saying the battle is too close to call and reluctant to name the victor", Zubaidah wrote.

Anyway, Bakaq Penarik Beca has mentioned two very interesting names that are on the registered Voters Roll: Aminah Bt Mohd of 463 Kg Tanjung Kapur (Ladang); and Mohd Tahir Bin Sutan, beralamat di 457 Kg Tanjung Kapur (Ladang).

What's so interesting about them? Well, Aminah was born in 1909, and Tahir 1903. But hopefully, they won't turn up to vote for either BN, PAS or the independent candidate. That's because neighbours and relatives interviewed by Mafrel had confirmed that they are no longer around in this world since a few decades ago.

However, they appear to have been issued a MyKad each, so there's a possibility a miracle might happen in Kuala Terengganu today...

Technorati Tags: Malaysian Politics,PAS,Umno,Kuala Terengganu By-election,Miracles,Phantom Voters

[Ignore] "Intense Debate" Testing[4]

Intense Debate - Check out the features here

Or at satD's post at Pure Shiite

Save Starbucks & Coca Cola: Die dirty Palestinians & Muslims, DIE!!

Who do the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (MMCA) people think they are!? Imagine - they have called on us to boycott Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Colgate products - icons of American products - as a protest against tacit US support of Israel's Gaza offensive.

Just because Palestinian Arab and Muslim men, women and children have been killed?! This is too much - it's as if their lives are more important than a can of Coca-Cola! And if we don't use Colgate toothpaste, senyuman tak bersinar-sinar lah! This is simply outrageous!

Here's what one "Brendan McDonnel" said about the MMCA and its call for a boycott: "To me it seems that a lot of tiny little brains are walking among us ... it's just depressing :( " [Note the emoticon. To you non-Internet savvy types, that means "frown", "sad"... For "Brendan McDonnel", it's MORE than that - "depressing". Kesian pulak kat Brendan McDonnel ni, sampai tertekan -

It means the MMCA might be on to something here...

CAPTION: Brendan McDonnel, left, from Glasgow, Scotland who is probably on a Lawatan Sambil Belajar in Kampung Pek, Machang, Kelantan (Brendan - Kalu hok ni tak betul, mu email royak ke aku, deh?): "Depressed that a lot of tiny little brains walking..."

For failing to state why he is against this call to boycott those products, Brendan is definitely one of the above. Yeah, if I were him, I'd be depressed with this failure too. MMCA sebut nak boycott barangan kesayangan dia, Brendan nih tension sampai dah jadi `mental'...

Oh, Sorry that I had forgotten to introduce: Folks, this depressed Mat Salleh-sounding guy (or probably just someone from Jinjang) is one of the people who wrote in to this Malay Mail forum:

The Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association has called for a boycott of Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Colgate products in response to the US support of Israel's Gaza offensive. Will you be taking part in the boycott?

And Mat Cendana learned quite a bit about a few things, thanks to reading this Malay Mail survey. One of the most important thing is that people talk, discuss, argue and debate A LOT. And then do nothing.

Which is why I have a lot of respect and admiration for people like Elviza Michele of the Write Away blog. Just like last month's landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa, people like Elviza don't talk and argue much - they just do things... EFFECTIVE THINGS.

One of that is with Mercy Malaysia, which has set up a team to help with humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza. For more details, please see what's going on and how you might also be able to help: Urgent Appeal: Palestine Relief Fund

Okay 'let's now see the first group of `intellects' - people who argue this and that. The original question of MMCA calling for a boycott of these American icons as a protest against the US allowing the bloodbath of Palestinians in Gaza by Israel. Let us see what Malaysian Janarthanan Nair, 27, a technical support executive in Kuala Lumpur said.

Let's try to be in his "Jualan Hujung Tahun"John Bert shoes; and think and analyse his response. BTW, I'm presuming that he's a Malaysian. But from his answer, for all we know, he might actually be from Dallas, Texas - dalam 4 batu nak sampai rumah George Bush...

"No, I don't believe I would consider it. I love Starbucks for its coffee. And if I were to buy a cup of Starbucks coffee, it doesn't mean I support Israel."

Memang sesuai dengan nama dia - Israel dengan Amerika buat Nair ke orang Palestine dan Islam, Janarthanan ni tak ambik pot.

So, MMCA - Mintak maaf ye? Nyawa you all punya saudara seagama kat Gaza tu MURAH dari Starbucks, Coca-Cola dan Colgate bagi orang-orang bukan Islam. Tapi yang beragama Islam pulak camana?

Malangnya, ramai yang seagama pun macam tu jugak. Khususnya yang (konon-konon) "liberal, open-minded, modern Muslims", yang akan persoal dan terus persoal itu dan ini... "Mengapa tiga syarikat ni? Adakah mereka membekal senjata? Mengapa tak boycott Microsoft, Pepsi Cola dan KFC? Bagaimana dengan pekedai runcit Muslim?...mereka akan rugi kalau Coca-Cola kat dalam store tu tak jalan. Anak-anak mereka nak makan apa?"

Remember the "Masjidul Dirra" that some `Muslims' had pushed for when the Prophet was preparing for a Jihad? Apa perbezaan promoters Masjid Dirra ni dengan orang-orang yang lebih sibuk dok nak persoalkan itu dan ini dari mengambil apa-apa TINDAKAN?

As a supplement to this matter, have a look at the blog of Tam Dalyall, which has quite a number of interesting and informative posts concerning the Israeli attacks on Gaza.

So you do not want to boycott Starbucks, Coca-Cola and Colgate... Okay, WHAT do you want to do then?

Sime Darby: Pusat Serenti is better than IJN

Folks, just a few hours after Mat Cendana put up the "Bleeding Heart" logo at the sidebar here, Sime Darby announced that it will not pursue previous plans to acquire a stake in National Heart Institute (IJN). So what does that show you?

Why, it shows how much influence this blog has on Sime Darby (SD), that's what! Don't believe that? Okay, go and make up your own lies then...

A Sime Darby spokesman said in The Star: "The company, nevertheless, will continue to look for opportunities for expansion in the healthcare sector”. 

Now that SD is losing out on a potential lucrative source of regular income - not to mention coveted land as mentioned by satD of Pure Shiite in Heartless Darby - may I mention another "healthcare" takeover to them? I hope there's something in it for me too, ya?

Pusat Serenti!... Yes, our drug rehabilitation centres - some 29 of them throughout the country.

"And why would that be a good idea? How should that bring in MONEY for Sime Darby?", chairman Tun Musa Hitam asks Mat Cendana.

Here's how, numskull (Padan dengan muka, aku panggil `numskull' kat dia Heheh!):

Like IJN, you'll be getting this: Regular income

Let's take a hypothetical government centre - Pusat Serenti Gambang (click on link or pix for a Google image of it) as an example.

SD's initial scam was to earn money from heart patients - rich AND poor. With the rich, it's obvious enough. With the poor; well, there's the government from whom SD will forward claims to in each and every case to make up for the shortfall in their bills. And they would be bloated of course, with a 20-sen Panadol/Paracetamol charged at RM2.

However, the furore raise by Malaysians put paid to the scheme. But luckily for Sime Darby, "cutting-edge neo-economist" Mat Cendana is here to save the day by providing another potential cash cow to milk. And SD will be seen as "contributing to social and human development"...

Here's how: Charge each person sent by the courts to undergo compulsory rehabilitation under the Drug Dependants Act (1983). How much should they be charged? Well, RM50 per day or RM1,500 a month should be reasonable.

Musa Hitam might not see it yet: "But how would drug addicts PAY for the costs?!".

This way-lah, bodoh - The same way that SD would have extracted money through IJN from the poor... through the government. The "RM1,500 per month to be paid by the rehabilitating addicts" is just for show - to hoodwink the public. There will be a clause that says "the government will make up for the shortfall where the rehabilitated addicts had failed to pay up (and that means 99% of them).

PS Gambang should easily take in 200 inmates. They are usually discharged after 14 months, but let's keep them for a full two years. The `rationale'  is "Longer treatment, better results" (It's not true, but can be debated). So, 200 x RM1,500 each = RM300,000 per month or RM3.6 million per year for this centre alone. Multiply that with 29 centres and you get... RM104 million!

"What about expenditure?...staff, food etc?. That will eat up a significant part of the income", clueless Musa remarks.

Bingai! (influenced by satD) Who says anything about SD footing it?? Make out another clause where the government maintains its present staff and whatever else - Sime Darby will be "the value-added specialists to enhance treatment and rehabilitation to ensure more successful results". Gettit?! "more successful" is vague enough, and statistics are easily manipulated to show `success'. Make sure the agreement is for at least 5 years - that should be enough time to see palm-oil prices going up again...

Oh, what's in it for me? Hey, for such a brilliant idea, just 1% of it should be reasonable, no?... Boleh buat modal nak kahwin dengan janda idaman Hehe! So, how about it then, Sime Darby? Can I go and contact the Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan (AADK) as your "consultant" now before UEM or YTL steals the idea?

 

Technorati Tags: Malaysia,Sime Darby,IJN,Rocky's Bru,Facebook,Firdaus Abdullah,Pure Shiite,satD,Sakmongkol AK47