Anecdotes of my passing...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away -- author unknown

If anyone do know the author, please let me know. :)

On a second note:

Every breath you take - The Police

Take my breath away - Berlin

Both are on my list of favourite songs. :P

Just thought I'd add some fuel to the already nice and boiling issue.. :P I'm bored from doing my coursework anyway.

In the headlines of the NST today, the current Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said and I quote:

"There may have been some delegates who went overboard in thier speeches, prompted by the atmosphere of the general assembly.

"They may have felt that by doing so, their speeches would be better received by the other delegates. They have a tendency to play to the gallery.


The NST reported that 'the party had identified several speeches which were deemed "exteme", and would leave it to the "relevant authorities" to take action.'

I'm an advocate of free speech and although the sentiments and issues raised was on the polemics of race the tone and "flavour" of some of the speeches are totally soaked with extreme racial undertones. As such, some has taken offence and much debate has been going around. Granted, we live in a 'rojak' (Datuk Rais, please correct me..) country and this may lead to some tension as well as disharmony but well, it is up to the speaker's discretion to say his piece. I do not think there was any guideline nor protocol but merely a silent understanding of not 'heating up' the hall with extremist opinions. Personally, I was quite shocked with all the keris-kissing antics (with all due respect on the symbolism of the Malay culture) but I guess it was because it was the first time I actually saw it unsheathed in a meeting where words, and not action, takes centrestage. Also I was a little bit offended-lah, but I take it all with a pinch of salt, and take comfort in knowing that these people are no way above the average intellect of the frogs we see under the coconut shell.Yet it's scary that these are also the very people that are representing us...but I digress. Hmm..where was I?

Yea, speakers, pandai-pandailah...jangan terbawa-bawa diri. Anyway, the issue is between freedom of speech and the protection of harmony post May 13. There is a delicate balance to be struck between these 2 and to side anyone would have its own pros and cons. Which should it be? I would err on the side of freedom because I believe that the people of today is a lot more ...erm...not cultured, not civilized...erm, yea, more secular and would know better than to believe every single thing said. Then again, the herd mentality of the majority is also a cause for concern as my belief may not actually be rooted in the evidence of a higher society in Malaysia. For all I know, I may be wrong in saying that our people has learned not to accept without question and in taking things for granted. Taking into account of the level of discourse and statements taking place among the upper echelons of the political stratosphere, (note doing stupid things in space, equity calculations, new palace wth? among many others), we may have yet to reach that level where freedom of speech is truly emancipated.

To conclude, ideally, I am still rooting for freedom of speech but the reality of the situation is such that it is impossible.

The link to the NST report.

These are some extra spices to make the scandal soup more tasty. :)

It seems a certain Deputy Prime Minister who is currently holding the post was in the past embroiled in a scandal with Ziana Zain. How far this is true I do not know nor do I allege but I would sure endeavour to find out. However, due to the fact that these sorta things get hushed up pretty quick and coupled with the fact that electronic resources on things political in Malaysia don't get much coverage, if any, on the Internet, I would never conclusively know for sure.

However, I do suspect, strongly, that there used to be some sort of relationship. Oh well..if anyone do know, please let me know. I love adding to my general knowledge. :)

And this same person, who used to be a Youth Head was also documented as having made inflammatory remarks. Keris soaked with chinese blood?? Of course, I would appreciate any evidence of the contrary.

I found this out from here. Thanks to FlyontheWall for the permission to link. :)

And as I have stated above that it is also this very person issuing a statement that said the 'fiery speakers' who 'played to the gallery' would face action. If the extra spices I know is to be true, then whatever he did back in his heyday would dwarf any 'fiery speaker' of today.

Funny how power changes people...I wonder if there is anyone in the political scene that is not a hypocrite?

I miss you. I honestly do.
I love you. Do you feel the same way too?
Can I hold your hand and hug you so tight?
Can I walk in your arms on the beach at night?
Is this true love that we share?
Will you shower me with tender loving care?
I wish the world is just you and me, ours
With wide green meadows and pretty flowers
Where we can watch the world go by without a care
While you cuddle and play with my hair..
Sigh...distance and place put us so far apart
No matter, you're still close to my heart
Here's to wishing that you take care
And come back to me when you're all done there
All the things we can do together
I don't care what, as long as I'm with you forever
If loving you so much is such a crime
Then you're my prison till the end of time.

Happy Birthday, Philip!

Many happy returns of the day! ;)



How is the celebration in Kelantan like?

Apparently this is an old email hoax(?) and has been circulating for quite some time now. Here's a link to a blog that talked about this.

There is also another one in a thread (post #330) in Lowyat where apparently the manager has issued a statement on this matter after a reader wrote in to a local daily. This is the official reply as taken from that forum which quoted the manager as he issued the statement to the daily.


QSR Brands Bhd's group public relations deputy general manager, Rosniza Baharum, says: "It has come to our attention that there is a malicious email alleging that Pizza Hut does not charge five per cent government tax and 10 per cent service charge on a certain race.
"We would like to unequivocally state that the email is a hoax. It is mandatory to charge taxes for all dine-in customers. But, we do collate our customers information of group size and race, inter alia, to better understand our customer profile and dine-in habits," he said.

Oh well...so much for my Sherlock Holmes adventure.

I received this email and it has piqued my curiosity. I am going to try to find out. Darn, i was eating Pizza Hut last week. I should have kept the bill. Please keep your bill the next time or pay attention to how the receipt when you get it.

Via email:

A Shock at Sunway Pyramid Pizza Hut

Hello everyone. I have some interesting news. I was in Pizza Hut (Sunway

Pyramid) yesterday and suddenly my friend showed me the
bill. The bill

contains normal things la (number of person, bill. number and what is

ordered). But, what shocked me is that they had space called "RACE". I

guess since we were all wearing tudung, they labelled us as 0,

which means MALAY. Later, when we went to pay...we had no

service charge and no tax charge.



Still in shock, I peeped into another bill in the counter. In that bill,

under the race space, it was labelled as C (which I guess means

Chinese). That bill had service and tax charges!!!



I started investigating. One of my Sri Lankan friends was labelled as

Indian it seems and she also had to pay service and tax charges a few

weeks back.


What I'm wondering is that...does anyone know about this? I find it

rather strange that they charge service and tax charge using race

in Pizza Hut, out of all the places!

Is there an order in chaos? Or is all random disorder? Order in disorder? A paradox?

Isn't life one?




Zen moments like this don't come too often for me.

Happy Birthday, Jaimie! :)


Many happy returns of the day.

(image courtesy of Komen Foundation)

I don't get what the brouhaha that is all over the news recently over the concept of 'bangsa Malaysia'. Like a Health Minister who said it is to be differentiated between the concept of citizenship and race. Unfortunately, the word 'bangsa' may metaphorically or otherwise, using poetic licence or otherwise, be construed as citizens albeit with some stretched interpretation. Generally, it means race (as stated in the Kamus Dewan 3rd ed, but am not sure of the recent 4th ed) but it can also mean "kumpulan manusia dalam satu ikatan ketatanegaraan" Don't we all follow the same "Rukun Negara" ? Regardless of whether you're a Malay, Indian, Chinese and whatnot..
Don't we come under this "bangsa Malaysia" ?

Semantics aside, there is a simple solution to all this. If you live in Australia/born bred there/obtain citizenship there = you're an Australian. If you're in Canada, you're a Canadian. If you're in Malaysia, you're a Malaysian. "Warganegara" Malaysia and "Bangsa" Malaysia does not really make much of a difference does it? Unless you want to drag the race issue in and start harping on equity and rights and privileges. Notwithstanding the special rights/privileges granted in the Constitution, we are still from one country and we are still its citizens. Is calling "Bangsa Malaysia" so wrong? No doubt the constitution as it was then drafted did not contain "bangsa malaysia" but times change. We are more globalised and dynamic now. People marry into other races. Love is universal. All that jazz. And you still have the nerve to start criticising and finger-point from that secluded corner under that ancient coconut shell?

There is still no sign of the famed Streamyx anywhere. He was tired from walking from days on end. He has subsisted on snails and other slimy gastropods he could get his hands on as well as drinking from the dark pools collected from the constant dripping off the walls of the cave Telekom. Was any of it poisonous? He does not know. What he does know is that he is still alive after all this while...he had a quest to fulfill. As his torch has long since burnt out...he is now completely in the dark, relying on his senses to guide him through.

Wait!! What is that?




He saw light! His eyes smarted at the sudden brightness that greeted him. He could feel cool breeze as it blew in. He quickly made his way out, whilst partially shielding his eyes. As his eyes slowly adjusted to the illumination, he stood amazed.



No more darkness! There was sun! He could hear birds! He walked further up along the beach.



He could see the water ... turqoise and clear.. is this paradise?


(thank you to Kelapa for this photo)
He walked closer...



Yes, it is.... For the time being the Streamyx would have to wait. He had other missions to accomplish. Who needs Streamyx when you have found Paradise? Screw the Corporation.