HAPPY MERDEKA!

First and foremost, HAPPY MERDEKA to all. Today mark the 52^nd anniversary of our country’s independence. We have received independence for 52 years now. Alhamduillah. Hopefully, we will remain so forever.

Each time when we celebrate our country’s independence, there are some quarters of people saying “Merdeka kah kita?” I was one of them. I always question are we really merdeka? How can we claimed that our country has achieved kemerdekaan when in reality we were not given the freedom of speech, proper democracy, students are banned from politics and many more. However, my perception changed today. I woke up this morning and suddenly I had a thought that it is indeed true that we are not given all that freedom and we are not having the true merdeka but how much have we appreciated our so called merdeka? Did we ever consider that? As of this moment, I believe that although we are not having the proper Merdeka, but we should always appreciate it and preserve it. Indeed, we do not have the proper freedom of speech but we have internet. We have blogs. Use it to express our thoughts. You can make the world listen to you with your writing in your blog. However, this does not mean that we should just keep things this way for the rest of our lives. We should always fight for our rights. Fight for true independence!

As I mentioned earlier, use blog to express our thoughts. Now, I am going to take this opportunity to condemn a few people believed to be the residents of Seksyen 23 Shah Alam. They had a small demonstration in front of Bangunan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri in Shah Alam. They disagree with the government’s decision to move a Hindu tample to their area. They claimed that it is not a good idea as the Indians are only minority in that area. I am not against the demonstration because as I mentioned earlier and in my previous posting, the rakyat deserve to show their disagreement. Holding a peaceful demonstration is one example of freedom of speech. But what I disagree the most is that during the demonstration, they bring along with them “kepala lembu”. This shows no respect to the people of other religions. It also shows how immature they are because they take things personally and not professionally. We are living in a multiracial country. The only way for us to remain harmonious like what we are having today is by practicing respecting others.

There are 2 messages in this posting. The first is to appreciate our independence and at the same time to fight for true independence. The second message is to respect others.

AL-FATIHAH

First and foremost, my deepest sympathy to the family of the late Senator Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh who passed away this morning. Semoga rohnya ditempatkan dikalangan orang-orang beriman.

Senator Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh is one great man. I really respect him. He excelled not only academically but all sorts of things. He did not use his blindness as a reason to achieved what he wants. I am able to say this because I know him quite well. He is among my father’s close friends. My father knew him since both of them were kids. They came from a same village. As they grew older, they became collogue at Fakulti Ekonomi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Back in 2002, my history teacher assigned my class to prepare a scrap book about great people. I did about him. I interviewed him and during the interview, he told me his life stories. How he grew up and all the obstacles that he had to face. His stories were really inspiring.

His death came as a shock to me. I heard the news from my twin brother. He sent me a sms this morning. For me, his death is a great loss to the country.

AFIF BAKED. ANAS?

I sat for Year 2 Block 1 Minitest last Friday. I dare not to comment about it. All I can say is that it is tremendously difficult. I have to cancel my plan to go back during the revision week because the questions were so tough that I realize I need more studying.

After the test, I went back to Kajang. I went back by bus. I know, you guys must be surprised why I choose to go back by bus this time as many of my friends were shocked as well. The reason is because I was going back alone. No one is accompanying me. So, all the expanses are on me, myself. Therefore, it is better for me to ride a bus.

There are 2 reasons why I went back last weekend. The first is I need to get this

My car road tax. My car road tax will expire this Friday. So, I need to have the new one or else legally I can’t drive the car.

The second reason is I never had the opportunity to spent time with my twin since he got back last July. He is leaving for US this 4^th of September. So, I decided to go back and spent time with him. I arrived at the Terminal Bas Kajang at 7.15pm but I only arrived home an hour later. Usually it only takes me 15 minutes but because of traffic jam, it took me an hour. The next day, I woke up at 11.30am. Wohoo… After Zuhr prayer, Afif and I went out to play bowling. We played a total of 5 games. The first 3 was between me and him only. He won 2 games and I won only one game. Then, our sister together with our brother-in-law and niece tagged along. So, we played another 2 games. This time, my bro-in-law won and I got second place. :-)

At night, after Terawikh again Afif and I went out to Borak Kedai Kopi. We had chit chat over there for an hour. But, here is the interesting part. Before going to the coffee shop, my mom asked me if I want to bring some cookies back to campus. Of course my answer will be yes. One of it is this cookie

To my surprise, it was bake by my twin. I am not going to say anything about the cookie because the ego side of me says I shouldn’t. Hehehe. Afif and I are very competitive. I told my mom that I want to bake as well. I’m going to bake some cookies during my raya break. Wish me luck. But before that any ideas on what should I bake? Suggestion please.

RAMADHAN

RAMADHAN
Kehadirannya dinanti. Kepulangannya ditangisi

SALAM RAMADHAN TO ALL

Semoga segala amalan kita diterima Allah. InsyaAllah

You got to be kidding

I took this from The Star webpage:

Saturday August 15, 2009

Which party is Karpal from?

By YENG AI CHUN

KUALA LUMPUR: There was a sense of disbelief in the High Court here yesterday when a reporter from Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) said she was not sure which party Karpal Singh belonged to.

Eliani Mazlan, 26, who took the stand on the third day of Karpal Singh’s sedition trial was being cross-examined by Jagdeep Singh Deo.

Jagdeep: Do you know which party is Karpal Singh from?

Eliani: I am not sure.

Karpal who was also present, could not help smiling in amusement when she said that.

Karpal was alleged to have uttered seditious words against the Sultan of Perak at his legal firm Messrs Karpal Singh & Co in Jalan Pudu Lama on Feb 6.

He is charged under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948.

Earlier, Jagdeep asked Eliani if she knew who Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was, to which she replied he was PKR’s president.

Jagdeep then asked if she knew that PKR was part of Pakatan Rakyat, to which she said she was not sure.

She also remained silent when asked if she had heard of Pakatan Rakyat.

Eliani was only two months into her job when she went to cover the press conference in February where Karpal is said to have uttered seditious words.

To a statement by Jagdeep that Karpal was a person of principle who held a different view on party hopping from his other colleagues in Pakatan, the reporter again replied that she was not sure.

Referring to the full transcript of the press conference, Jagdeep asked Eliana if she was sure that Karpal had really said he would sue the Sultan.

Jagdeep: At page four, paragraph two of the video transcript, Karpal said “In fact, I’ve stated very clearly that we will sue the Sultan together with the new state government as defendants if they persist.” Are you sure Karpal said he would sue the Sultan? What does it say?

Eliani: We.

Jagdeep: It is not I.

Eliani: But it could mean himself.

Jagdeep: We could mean I? Is that what you are trying to say? What was said in the transcript?

Eliani: We.

Jagdeep: So you agree that we is not I?

Eliani: Yes.

Jagdeep: You agree that your understanding is completely a misunderstanding?

Eliani: I am not sure.

Jagdeep also relentlessly questioned the witness about the “gaps” in the video footage of Karpal’s media conference which was tendered in court on Thursday.

Judicial Commissioner Azman Abdullah ticked Jagdeep off for his intimidating style of questioning and reminded him not to shout at the witness.

“But My Lord, I have yet to shout at her,” replied Jagdeep, drawing laughter from those present.

The trial resumes on Tuesday.

My first reaction when i read this article: WHAT????????

God! There are individuals that does not know Karpal Singh and Anwar Ibrahim??? You got to be kidding!

AMNI NADIRAH.... Pak Su Nas rindu kamu!

This is my sis-in-law wrote on his Facebook profile on the Father's Day. (sorry.... i just read it)

Baju Ayah
Living as a family apart is never easy. Not least for Little Amni.

There have been times when Amni misses her Dad so badly, I've had to show her videos of Amin playing with her when she was a baby. Or sometimes we'd have Amin call up to speak to her, to make her feel better.

So the last time Amin came over, I asked him to regularly wear one of his t-shirts, which happens to be the very same shirt he was wearing when I was in labour and Amni was born.

The idea was that I could let Amni constantly see the shirt when Amin's away, and maybe she wouldn't miss her Dad too much.

I think it's working.Amni will wrap her daddy's shirt around her everytime she misses him.

Amni's comfort toys - her soft toy and daddy's shirt.

AMNI... Pak Su Nas amat2 merindu kamu...

I think she has forgotten me. The last time I met her is a week before Ramadhan last year. Now, its a week before Ramadhan. So, it has already a year I have not met her. She probably does not recognize me anymore. :-( The last time we met, she is still unable to walk properly. Now, from the videos that I watched, she can run really fast now.

I am really looking forward to meet her. I am planning to visit her May next year. Please, let it become reality. What I mean here, tak nak plan nak pegi saja bt at the end of the day... cancel.

KELANTAN TRIP

I went back to my hometown, in Kelantan last weekend. I went there to attend my classmate’s wedding. The wedding ceremony is at Wakaf Che Yeh in Kelantan. It is very near to my hometown. That’s why I decided to attend the ceremony. I’m writing here is not to describe or tell you about how the trip was because overall, the trip was exciting. I’m writing here is to express my disappointment with the journey.

I went back to Kelantan by bus. Transnasional bus, to be specific. Before this, I used to think that transnasional is the best as I was informed by an unknown person (I met him at my neighbor’s wedding) that transnasional is the only bus company that covers their passenger with insurance. I’m not sure if this is true. Now, after a few incidences with Transnasional, I no longer believe that Transnasional is the best.

On 1^st Ramadhan last year, I was on my way back from KL to Kuantan. As I had not had a car yet at that time, I rode Transnasional bus. The driver was really rude towards the passenger and to other road users. He even threw a water bottle towards a car because the car was slow to move when the traffic light had turned green. He also forgot to close the baggage compartment causing him to stop at the road side in the middle of the journey. I wrote a complaint letter to the management but it’s nearly a year now, I have not received any feedback.

As for my Kelantan trip, I was disappointed because according to the ticket, the bus should departed from Terminal Makmur, Kuantan at 3pm. The bus only came at 3.30pm. This one, I can forgive. My friends and I bought the ticket together in order for us to be able to sit together but the driver assigned us with new seat number. So we have to split. Assigning new seat number, add to the delay. We only departed from Terminal Makmur, Kuantan around 4pm. To add to my disappointment, I believe the bus had a “technical” problem. How can they allow an unfit bus be on road? They are putting our lives on risk! Alhamdulillah, we arrived safely.

On my way from Kota Bharu to Kuantan, again the bus arrived 30 minutes late. Lucky for us they did not assigned us with new seat number so my friends and I are able to sit next to each other. I also disappointed because of security issue. They allow pengemis to go on board to collect donation. How can they allow this? I am not against the peminta sedekah but this is a security issue. My cousin lost her wallet and cell phone in a bus. It is believed that an unidentified man went on board at took it while she went down to salam her parents. Peminta sedekah nie plak, time tunggu bas kat station tak nak plak kutip sedekah. Suspicious kan?

Because of all these, I won’t be using Transnasional anymore. Boikot!

MANSUHKAN ISA

The anti-ISA rally had taken place last Saturday, 1^st August 2009. The organizer claimed that managed to gather more than 100,000 people and hence they had achieved their target. As expected, the next day the main stream media reported that only 80,000 people turned up at the rally. As expected as well, the papers on the next day were full with criticism about the rally from leaders and the rakyat as if all Malaysians disapproved the action. Mind you, if all Malaysian were not happy with the move, why did the organizer manage to gather 100K people (or 80K people as what they reported)? Why did the press interview at least one of them?

The Bar Council made a statement stating that the Government must respect the fundamental rights of individuals to assemble peaceably to express their opinions. I have the same voice with them. The rights of individual to express their views should be respected as long as it is in a proper manner. I believe having a rally is indeed a proper manner. It shows the seriousness of the rakyat to see that ISA is abolished. The rally turned ugly because of the police. If the police did not use excessive force or obstruct them, the rally will turn out to be fine. What is the different between this rally with other rallies such as during Maulid Nabi, Maal Hijrah or even Thaipusam?

The government claimed that the street rally is not our culture. They are wrong! They should review back our history. History has shown that our great ancestors also organized such rally. Our ancestors had organized a rally to show their disagreement towards the implementation of Malayan Union and many more. Due to the nationwide rally, the British government at that time realized that the Malay were really against Malayan Union. If our ancestors did not organize such rally, will we be enjoying the freedom like we are having now? You answer it by yourself.

Therefore my friend, let the people march and have their rally. Let them voice their opinions and views. Rakyat yang berani adalah lebih baik daripada rakyat yang menjadi pak turut.