Sunday, September 28, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Token punishment
A 3 year suspension of the Bukit Bendera division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail who caused such a stir in the country with his offensive remarks is just a slap on the wrist.
Instead of going away quietly, he remained defiant to the end. He reiterated that there was no reason for him to retract his remarks that likened the Chinese community as "squatters".
He was quoted as saying that he accepted the decision to suspend him because it was made by UMNO leaders and if it was made by BN he would not have accepted it.
In his press conference following his suspension, his tirade against the former Chief Minister of Penang (Koh Tsu Koon) continues with unabated venom. This only confirms everyone's suspicion that the previous administration just couldn't keep a tight rein on some of these leaders (read warlords) from a dorminant party within the BN coalition.
Hence, on March 8, 2008 the people of Penang spoke loud and clear and the Gerakan government was totally wiped out.
Now that a political decision has been taken by Ahmad Ismail's party, the people are now anxiously waiting to see if the enforcement of the law will be taken in view of the numerous police reports lodged against him.
Ahmad Ismail's lack of remorse despite the severity of his actions gives the impression that he feels he is someone special and would not be made to face the law as ordinary Malaysians would, should they breach any of it.
There should be no double standards by the relevant authorities. The Police and the Attorney General must now prove to the people that everyone is subject to the rule of law in the country.
The people awaits their wise decision.
Instead of going away quietly, he remained defiant to the end. He reiterated that there was no reason for him to retract his remarks that likened the Chinese community as "squatters".
He was quoted as saying that he accepted the decision to suspend him because it was made by UMNO leaders and if it was made by BN he would not have accepted it.
In his press conference following his suspension, his tirade against the former Chief Minister of Penang (Koh Tsu Koon) continues with unabated venom. This only confirms everyone's suspicion that the previous administration just couldn't keep a tight rein on some of these leaders (read warlords) from a dorminant party within the BN coalition.
Hence, on March 8, 2008 the people of Penang spoke loud and clear and the Gerakan government was totally wiped out.
Now that a political decision has been taken by Ahmad Ismail's party, the people are now anxiously waiting to see if the enforcement of the law will be taken in view of the numerous police reports lodged against him.
Ahmad Ismail's lack of remorse despite the severity of his actions gives the impression that he feels he is someone special and would not be made to face the law as ordinary Malaysians would, should they breach any of it.
There should be no double standards by the relevant authorities. The Police and the Attorney General must now prove to the people that everyone is subject to the rule of law in the country.
The people awaits their wise decision.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Who the hell Ahmad Ismail think he is?
I am sure many Malaysians are just wondering how come so much leeway was given to a low class, low ranking divisional UMNO leader from Penang who uttered racist remarks and then behaved arrogantly in the presence of the media and cheered on by his followers.
Though the BN may say that Ahmad Ismail acted on his own but it has been worry trend in the country after the March 8 GE. It seems there could be many Ahmad Ismails lurking within UMNO who would not hesitate to play the racial and religion card just to get themselves noticed.
Yes, the BN lost badly in the 12th GE but it still has a healthy majority in parliament to govern the country. Instead of acknowledging and accepting the reasons for the loss in support, some BN component party leaders have been harping on sensitive issues much to the chagrin of others. This is not good for a multi-racial and multi-religious country like ours.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim proposed take over on September 16 will not happen. It's just a bluff and his way of shaking up the BN and it did. The lates reaction from the BN being the junket to Taiwan by several BN MPs. He must be laughing himself silly on how he got the BN to suspect its own MPs of jumping ship and thus making them sign a pledge of loyalty.
There's no law in Malaysia against any elected MP or state assemblyman who switch allegiance. I personally find those who do so, without resigning from their seat as unscrupulous and unprincipled. It is time we have legislation requiring those who defect to resign and seek re-election. With such a legislation, we don't have to worry about any defections as the seat will be declared vacant should anyone choose to do so.
Though the BN may say that Ahmad Ismail acted on his own but it has been worry trend in the country after the March 8 GE. It seems there could be many Ahmad Ismails lurking within UMNO who would not hesitate to play the racial and religion card just to get themselves noticed.
Yes, the BN lost badly in the 12th GE but it still has a healthy majority in parliament to govern the country. Instead of acknowledging and accepting the reasons for the loss in support, some BN component party leaders have been harping on sensitive issues much to the chagrin of others. This is not good for a multi-racial and multi-religious country like ours.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim proposed take over on September 16 will not happen. It's just a bluff and his way of shaking up the BN and it did. The lates reaction from the BN being the junket to Taiwan by several BN MPs. He must be laughing himself silly on how he got the BN to suspect its own MPs of jumping ship and thus making them sign a pledge of loyalty.
There's no law in Malaysia against any elected MP or state assemblyman who switch allegiance. I personally find those who do so, without resigning from their seat as unscrupulous and unprincipled. It is time we have legislation requiring those who defect to resign and seek re-election. With such a legislation, we don't have to worry about any defections as the seat will be declared vacant should anyone choose to do so.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Merdeka Climb to Gunung Angsi
Yesterday, as the nation celebrates its 51st Merdeka I decided to go for a climb to Gunung Angsi (820m/2706 ft) together with Ken Meng, Zenon and Tan. We agreed to meet up at 8 .00 am but there was a slight delay as some of the roads were blocked due to the Merdeka Day parade in Seremban.
We commenced our ascend at about 8.45 am. Felicia/Chong and gang were already at the summit as they had camped overnight. Texted them that we are on the way up. The weather was cool but the humidity was very high as usual. Just before reaching "Panjang's resort", we caught up with 2 chaps who said they weren't going all the way up but only half-way.
Reached "Panjang's resort" after about 20 mins and met panjang and 2 others. Apparently, panjang had spent the night at his "resort". We continued with our ascend. There were stretches when the cool mountain mist became very thick that visibility was barely a few feet. Due to rain the track was damp and at certain stretches slippery too.
We finally reached the summit after about 1 hour 45 mins. Chong was calling out for me and said we were late. They had already 'broke' camp and getting ready to descend. Felicia saved 3 pieces of her home baked cakes for us. Felicia said the view from the summit at night was nice. Could see the lights of Seremban town and a bit of the fireworks display on the eve of Merdeka.
While we were at the summit another group of KLites came up from the trail from the Ulu Bendol Forest Reserve. The first chap said it was tough and it took him 3 hours to reach the summit. We told him there's a short-cut route which he wasn't aware as it was the first time he was climbing gunung angsi. Later, another group from KL came from the same trail that we took. This weekend we met quite a number of people at the summit.
Before we descend, thick mist was blown across the summit. It was windy too and Zenon asked for my Malaysian flag so that he could attach it to his stick and wave it for a photo shoot. It was a nice scene and the other climbers borrowed my flag for their own photo shoot.
Our descend was slow and we met several climbers from KL who were on their way up. Made a joke at one of them that the summit was closed due to thick mist ....
Our descend took about the same time as our ascend. After short breather, we adjourned to the noodle shop in Dusun Nyior.
We commenced our ascend at about 8.45 am. Felicia/Chong and gang were already at the summit as they had camped overnight. Texted them that we are on the way up. The weather was cool but the humidity was very high as usual. Just before reaching "Panjang's resort", we caught up with 2 chaps who said they weren't going all the way up but only half-way.
Reached "Panjang's resort" after about 20 mins and met panjang and 2 others. Apparently, panjang had spent the night at his "resort". We continued with our ascend. There were stretches when the cool mountain mist became very thick that visibility was barely a few feet. Due to rain the track was damp and at certain stretches slippery too.
We finally reached the summit after about 1 hour 45 mins. Chong was calling out for me and said we were late. They had already 'broke' camp and getting ready to descend. Felicia saved 3 pieces of her home baked cakes for us. Felicia said the view from the summit at night was nice. Could see the lights of Seremban town and a bit of the fireworks display on the eve of Merdeka.
While we were at the summit another group of KLites came up from the trail from the Ulu Bendol Forest Reserve. The first chap said it was tough and it took him 3 hours to reach the summit. We told him there's a short-cut route which he wasn't aware as it was the first time he was climbing gunung angsi. Later, another group from KL came from the same trail that we took. This weekend we met quite a number of people at the summit.
Before we descend, thick mist was blown across the summit. It was windy too and Zenon asked for my Malaysian flag so that he could attach it to his stick and wave it for a photo shoot. It was a nice scene and the other climbers borrowed my flag for their own photo shoot.
Our descend was slow and we met several climbers from KL who were on their way up. Made a joke at one of them that the summit was closed due to thick mist ....
Our descend took about the same time as our ascend. After short breather, we adjourned to the noodle shop in Dusun Nyior.
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