Being a bastard

This issue is depressing,

PUTRAJAYA,  July 28 (Bernama) -- The current implementation of genealogy of Muslim illegitimate children will go on as usual, said National Registration Department director-general Datuk Mohd Yazid Ramli.

"Any amendments to the current implementation would only be considered after the decision by the Federal Court,” he said in a statement today on the judgement by the Appeals Court that any child conceived out-of-wedlock could use the name of the man who admits fatherhood.

He said the NRD through the Attorney-General’s Chambers had filed an appeal against the verdict of the case which sided the applicant at the Federal Court.

Mohd Yazid said the High Court had previously ruled that under Islamic law, it was not allowed that a child bears the surname of the person who claimed fatherhood as he had been born less than six months from the date of the parents’ marriage.

“As such, the action taken by the NRD is in line with the decision of the Muzakarah National Fatwa Committee Council,” he said.

Personally, I think we all should be allowed to name whomever we want as our father.

Bastard or not, everyone should have the same rights.

But again, that's my personal opinion.

NRD instead is following a fatwa.

By right, as a Muslim, I shouldn't be questioning a fatwa.

Still, I can't help but to wonder whether it's really necessary to force such a thing on anyone.

It's like labeling people.

You are therefore a bastard. You need to be identified as that because you are lesser than non-bastards.

Basically, no matter what is the rationale, I think that's the effect of such a ruling.

Why do we need to punish a child in such a way just because he/she was conceived out of wedlock?

I heard it many times from people who seemed to know Islam more than myself that such a child was not at fault for being a bastard, and that only the parents are guilty for fucking around.

So, why labeled the child as a bastard?

Isn't that unfair to the child?

There are other connecting issues to this matter but I rather not discuss it as I don't want to muddle things up more.

All, I know is that Islam is fair and just.

Why then we have this kind of ruling, which doesn't seem very fair to me?

Maybe I'll be deemed a lesser Muslim (or even a kafir) for questioning this, but personally, I think if a person is good, it doesn't matter whether he/she is a bastard.

Well, never mind what they want to say, I'm just saying what's in my mind on this.

Okay, have a restful weekend guys.

Here's a bit of music,

My father always sang this about my mother. He loves her very much.

Does it really matter if I'm their bastard?

Petronas is still a winner (updated)

UPDATES

Please also read,

Petronas undeterred by Canadian LNG setback

ORIGINAL POST

There's an apparently quite a bit of hue and cry among the usual suspects about this story,

Petronas will not proceed with LNG project in Canada

They made it as if it's the end of the world....or at least the end of Malaysia, because of it.

I was like....aiyoo, that's a corporate decision la. The sky would not collapse because of it.

And Petronas was not alone in the project. It made the decision with its partners.

Petronas  announced the decision in this statement,

Today Pacific NorthWest LNG’s partners announced that the project will not be moving forward.

The decision was made by the project partners following a total review of the project amid changes in market conditions.

For almost five years we have been working with local governments, First Nations, residents and businesses about our proposed project and are very grateful for the support we have received.

Thank you to the communities of Port Edward and Prince Rupert for welcoming Pacific NorthWest LNG and hosting our local outreach offices. In addition, thank you to all the communities in northwestern BC who expressed an interest in the project and took the time to work with us.

We would also like to recognize the time and efforts of all the area First Nations, including the Lax Kwa’laams First Nation, Metlakatla First Nation, Kitsumkalum First Nation, Gitxaala First Nation and Gitga’at First Nation, and all of the other nations residing in the Prince Rupert area who have kindly provided us feedback.

Our team members have been warmly welcomed by the communities. Thank you to the dozens of local businesses who we have had the opportunity to work with in the recent years.

Pacific NorthWest LNG will complete our outstanding business commitments by the end of September. Our Prince Rupert and Port Edward offices are scheduled to be closed effective August 25, 2017.

That project in Canada was started five years ago and Petronas, along with its partners tried very hard to make it a success.

As noted in its statement, Petronas worked with even the Canadian natives whom it thanked for their contributions and support for the project.

The project looked good indeed when it was first conceptualised, but things changed for the industry, especially over the past few years.

As everyone should know by now, the oil and gas industry is suffering the world over.

Most of the countries, especially those in the Middle East, which were dependant on oil money suffered.

One of my aunts (my father's sister) who worked in Saudi Arabia returned home earlier this month after working there for almost 30 years. She's home for good.

She said the Saudi government is struggling to even pay its workers' salaries now.

Who would have thought of that not long ago.

It's one of those things that just happens, okay.

Therefore, if the Canadian LNG project is no longer viable because of the world oil price drop, then it's good that Petronas pulled the plug off rather than suffering more losses.

If you google and read the news about the cancellation of the project, you would probably notice that it was not really Petronas' fault.

Things just got complicated with the Canadian authorities on top of the sluggish O&G industry.

Anyway, all businesses make losses at one point or another.

Even a non-business person like me knows that.

You win some, you lose some. That's the nature of business.

The trick is, try to win more than losing.

I think Petronas has always win more than lose.

Otherwise it wouldn't be as successful as it is now.

Some asked why itchy to invest overseas and risks losses?

Well, you risk losses even at home.

Petronas is actually successful because of it's ability to make good investments around the world.

It has a good global reputation, which was built on its good management skills and professionalism.

That what sets it apart from most other O&G companies from this part of the world.

All things considered, Petronas is still a winner despite the Canadian setback.

Let's look a bit at the history of Petronas' overseas investments. I just took this from Wikipedia,

Expanding globally: the 1990s and beyond

During the mid- to late 1990s, international exploration, development, and production remained key components in PETRONAS' strategy along with diversification. A key discovery was made in the Ruby field in Vietnam in 1994. That year, the firm also saw its first overseas production from the Dai Hung field in Vietnam and established its first retail station outside of Malaysia in Cambodia.

 In 1995, a subsidiary was created to import, store, and distribute liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). In addition, the company's polyethylene plant in Kerteh began operations. PETRONAS marked a significant milestone during this time period—two of its subsidiaries, PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd and PETRONAS Gas Bhd, went public on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. Between 1993 and 1996, it purchased the former sub-Saharaian branch of Mobil Oil, rebranded as Engen Petroleum.

In 1996, PETRONAS entered the aromatics market by way of a joint venture that created Aromatics Malaysia Sdn Bhd. It also formed a contract with China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Chevron Overseas Petroleum Ltd. to begin exploration of block 02/31 of the Liaodong Bay area in China. While the Asian economy as a whole suffered from an economic crisis during 1997 and 1998, Malaysia was quick to bounce back due to successful government reforms. From its new headquarters in the PETRONAS Twin Towers, the state-owned concern continued its development in the oil and gas industry. Soon India's Liberty Group purchased a 1% stake in Petronas

During 1997, PETRONAS heightened its diversification efforts. The firm set plans in motion to build three petrochemical plants in Kuantan as well as an acetic facility in Kerteh. Its first LPG joint venture in China was launched that year and the company acquired a 29.3% interest in Malaysia International Shipping Corporation Berhad (MISC). In 1998, PETRONAS' tanker-related subsidiary merged with MISC, increasing PETRONAS' stake in MISC to 62%. That year, PETRONAS introduced the Petronas E01, the country's first commercial prototype engine. The company also signed a total of five new production sharing contracts (PSCs) in 1998 and 1999, and began oil production in the Sirri field in Iran.

PETRONAS entered the new century determined to expand its international efforts. The company forged deals for two new exploration plots in Pakistan and began construction on the Chad-Cameroon Integrated Oil Development and Pipeline Project. By 2002, PETRONAS had signed seven new PSCs and secured stakes in eight exploration blocks in eight countries, including Gabon, Cameroon, Niger, Egypt, Yemen,Indonesia, and Vietnam. The firm also made considerable progress in its petrochemicals strategy, opening new gas-based petrochemical facilities in Kerteh and Gebeng.

By 2003, Malaysia was set to usurp Algeria as the world's second-largest producer of LNG with the completion of the Malaysia LNG Tiga Plant. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad commented on the achievement in a May 2003 Bernama News Agency article, claiming that "the PETRONAS LNG complex now serves as another shining example of a vision realized of a national aspiration, transformed into reality by the same belief among Malaysians that 'we can do it.'" Indeed, PETRONAS had transformed itself into a global oil company over the previous decade, becoming a national symbol for success. The company realised, however, that it would have to continue its aggressive growth strategy to insure its survival in the years to come.

The PETRONAS overseas expansion drive continues with the acquisition of Woodside Energy Ltd Mauritania assets for $418 million in 2007.^[11] The venture proved successful as they discovered oil in May 2008^[12]

In 2004, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, stated that PETRONAS contributed RM 25 Billion to the country's treasury accounting for 25% of revenue collected via dividends and other revenues. PETRONAS continuously provides the Malaysian government dividends from its profits. Since inception in 1974, PETRONAS have paid the government RM 403.3 billion, with RM 67.6 billion in 2008. The payment represents 44% of the 2008 federal government revenue.^[13] PETRONAS continues to focus on international exploration projects as 40% of revenue in 2008 was derived from international projects such as Iran, Sudan, Chad and Mauritania. The company's international reserves stood at 6.24 billion barrels oil equivalent in 2008.^[14]

On 29 October 2012, PETRONAS sources said it will renew a bid for gas producer Progress Energy Resources after Canada blocked its bid earlier that month. The $6-billion bid was approved by Ottawa on 7 December 2012.^[15]

On 17 January 2013, PETRONAS issued a statement that an onshore oil and gas discovery has been made in the state after drilling a test well about 20 kilometres away from the city of Miri in northern Sarawak. The well was found to have a net hydrocarbon thickness of 349 meters. It had flow rates of 440 barrels of crude oil per day and 11.5 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. The find is the first onshore oil discovery in Malaysia in 24 years. ^[16]

On 2 May 2015, PETRONAS completed its acquisition of oil and gas assets in Azerbaijan from Norway’s Statoil for US$2.25 billion.^[17]

Plagued by the 2010s oil glut, PETRONAS reported on 26 February 2015 that it cut its 2015 capital expenditures budget after reporting a $2 billion fourth quarter loss, the company's first loss since it began reporting quarterly results five years ago.^[18]

On 1 April 2017, PETRONAS' PFLNG SATU, is the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, has achieved a new milestone with the successful loading of its first cargo at the Kanowit gas field, offshore Bintulu, Sarawak. PFLNG SATU will complement PETRONAS’ global LNG portfolio, making it a leader in the FLNG technology and enhancing its reputation as a preferred and reliable LNG supplier.^[19]

And Petronas is also a winner in F1 with Mercedes. It's a world champion.

That, after all the investments and supposed losses when it first started with the Sauber team.

GE14 may not even be this year after all

Saw this story yesterday,

Pakatan plans rally against Putrajaya in October 

and today DPM DS Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said,

Opposition can hold gathering if conditions fulfilled

This looks like the date of the general election will not be around that time as much speculated previously.

Many thought GE14 will be held not long after the Sea Games in September.

The reason was said because of the probable feel good factor of the event and the advantage BN has over the currently incoherent opposition pact.

Maybe the opposition parties had found out that PM DS Najib Razak will not call for the poll so early from its deadline in August next year.

That's why I think they want to have the gathering in mid-October instead of September as earlier planned.

I don't think the opposition parties would want such a gathering to be too near an election date as they logically hope to build a groundswell on it.

They probably welcomed the election being pushed back till its deadline so that they have time to consolidate their pact and support as well as repair all the cracks in their coalition.

I expect Malaysian politics to get even more hectic after the gathering.

The opposition would likely go all out campaigning after that, all the way to the general election.

It's also becoming quite apparent that BN also needs more time to prepare for the polls.

Feedbacks indicated that a lot more needed to be done on the ground if the coalition wants its machinery to be fully operational.

Compared to the same period prior to the last general election in 2013, what had been done so far was much less than back then.

Yes, there were a lot of noises going back and forth between the two opposing sides, particularly in cyberspace, but the real works on the ground have been relatively slow.

Even DAP, arguably the hardest working party doesn't seems the same as itself in the run up to the last general election.

Maybe it's fatigue.

Actually, if I'm to have a wish on this, I rather they have the election early so that we can after that go on with our lives.

Now, if they don't have it in October after the Sea Games, I doubt they are even going to have it this year.

And if it's stretched till it's final deadline, we'll have to suffer another whole year of nonsense and stupid statements by obnoxious politicians and their followers from both sides as it is now.

Such a drag, isn't it?  

Well, I have been postponing my next trip to Japan several times because of this.

My Japanese friend who kept asking me to visit him in Tokyo is probably fed up with me by now.

See lah. If the general election is really not going to be after the Sea Games, I'll go there for an autumn visit.

Mount Fuji from the bank of Lake Kawaguci in autumn

Will try to find out more because I need to be really sure so that I can book my tickets and lodging early. Otherwise it's going to be too expensive.

Okay, that's about it.

Need to close shop now. There's only another person in my office now. Others had went home rather early today.

Ciao.

Appreciate the MRT

So many people have been writing about the MRT of late.

It is indeed good to have it, especially for those living in the Klang Valley.

KL finally joined other big cities of the world in having a proper modern public transport system.

I believe it will transform the city for the better as more people leave their cars at home and commute on the MRT.

I was not planning to write in more details about it as there were so many such articles already.

Anyway, I had first wrote about it with a bit of politics in this post in December last year,

MRT better than KLCC

Nonetheless, following complaints of vandalism and lack of etiquette among some commuters using our brand new MRT, as highlighted by the media and fellow bloggers, I would like to put a video here which I think can help us learn how people in another country go about on their train,

Notice how clean and quiet the trains and stations were.

No garbage and no people talking loudly irritating other commuters.

Everyone behaves even in the packed train.

The chikan is a myth, actually. Again, don't watch those disgusting Japanese porn, okay.

I've been on those Japanese trains, having once stayed near the Tokyo Station for a week.

They were as they are in the video.

Okay, and this is a comparison between commuters in Japan and those in India,

I think we should be more like the Japanese.

Pandang ke timur, okay.

Better, isn't it ?

Dreaming of KJ, Azmin and Chin Tong

Let's say I have been given the chance to set a single rule for the next general election.

What I would do is to ban everyone above 60 to actively take part in it, except voting.

Everyone above that age limit can't become candidate or even campaign for the election in any way.

They must sit quietly at home and only vote on polling day.

That should take out a lot of the quarrelsome characters.

No more Dr Mahathir, Najib, Kit Siang, Hadi, Anwar and wife, etc etc.

It would also take out many of the irritating type such as Ku Nan, Mat Sabu, Shahrizat, etc.

Imagine that, okay.

We will have a set of younger people to choose.

Maybe we can have KJ leading BN and Azmin leading Pakatan.

That would be better isn't it?

All handsome, energetic and full of new ideas.

Too bad DAP, you all are stuck with the super irritating Guan Eng.

You know what, if you all don't like that, maybe this coming CEC re-election you can get my Kluang kampung boy Liew Chin Tong to fight Guan Eng.

See, Chin Tong is more handsome and I believe smarter than Guan Eng.

Anyway, if we can get such a rule in place, then the older people can take their old style quarrelling elsewhere.

The irritating ones can stay at home and play with their grand children instead of imposing their irritating selves on us.

The new younger set of people may offer a healthier and more mature politics to the country.

No more all the stupid baggages from the old days.

No more people who think that politics is a source of income until they die instead of a mean to serve the rakyat.

No more people who turn their political position into their personal property to be inherited by their children and grandchildren.

I think it's the only way to cleanse our political system.

Currently, the young ones in politics are just following the footsteps of their seniors who are clinging on to their political life either to cari makan or sustaining their ego (and most of the time, both).

These older people are the ones who set the culture of things such as money politics, racial and religious bigotry, dishonesty, disloyalty etc as means to survive and move up in the Malaysian political world.

Without them, things may likely be different.

To ensure that, we can also put 60 as the retirement age for politicians, just like any other job in the country.

That way, only the truly good people will aspire to be politicians as the bad ones will think that it's not worth it because they can't do their crooked things due to the time limit.

By then, we people can see clearer who are the better ones to choose among those young people who offer themselves to represent us.

What do you think?

Good idea, right?

Hahaha....well, of course it will never happen.

I'm just day dreaming.

Stuck in my room with nothing to do now

Can't even do Sunday shopping as I'm a bit broke this month.

That's why I'm lying on my bed writing this now.

But still, it's okay to dream of good things, right?

Never mind. Hope you all are having a good rest day.

Cheers.

A little issue and Azmin being the best PM candidate

I thought of commenting on this story when I woke up this morning,

Whistleblower website accuses Selangor’s MBI of impropriety

but then I'm feeling very lazy throughout the day.

So, why don't you all click on the link above, read and judge it for yourself instead of me with my less than expert knowledge on such matters try to explain it to you.

Here is a bit of it in case you are too lazy even to click on the link,

excerpts :

According to Selangor-Leaks, the issue involves MBI, Universiti Selangor (Unisel) and construction company Jana Niaga Sdn. Bhd.

The anonymous website alleges that MBI had made a questionable payment to Jana Niaga despite the company’s failure to meet its contractual obligations with Unisel. 

All, I want to say is that I think Selangor MB DS Mohamed Azmin Ali should explain what the heck is that all about.

After all, from what I was told, Jana Niaga is own by an Umno guy. Why is it that his MBI is being so nice to such a company?

Is the Umno guy a friend of Azmin from back during his Umno days or something?

Very weird, actually.

Hopefully, Azmin can come up with a good explanation.

Anyway,  that aside, I think Pakatan Harapan missed a great opportunity when it named its leadership line-up the other day.

Personally, I think they should have named Azmin as their PM candidate.

He's the best that they can offer, especially to attract young voters.

Instead, they put the older people at the top of the hierarchy.

With all due respect to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, I don't think he should be the PM again even if Pakatan wins the next general election.

Dr M is 92, okay. He should rest even now. I wrote about it in this previous post in July last year,

Dr Mahathir should rest

And of course I also don't think that DS Anwar Ibrahim and his wife DS  Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail are suitable for the job too.

They are also too old and if I may add, I never believe that Anwar, and even more so his wife, can do the job properly.

They simply can't, okay.

Anwar can only talk but if I remember it correctly, he was not exactly a very good deputy of Dr Mahathir.

He actually messed up quite a lot during the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s.

Dr Wan Azizah can't even talk. I mean, she can't even deliver a decent speech, let alone managing this country.

The husband and wife are in their late 60s.

I seriously think that a PM candidate should be below 60. Vibrant and have much energy and new ideas in line with the needs of the younger rakyat.

So, Azmin should have been the better choice to be Pakatan's PM candidate.

I wrote about it in this previous post in May last year,

The opposition leader who can reunite them

I know Rafizi may likely be unhappy about it but seriously, Azmin is the only viable PH candidate for the PM job.

Rafizi himself can't be a candidate because not unlike Anwar, he can only talk and not much else.

The only worthy rival of Azmin for the post is probably DS Mukhriz Mahathir.

But then again,  Mukhriz's father is Dr Mahathir and therefore he's an  easy target of nepotism attacks.

Furthermore, his Pribumi Bersatu is still just a junior party in the opposition pact.

KJ, this boy wants to see you (updated)

(Note: Updates at the bottom of original post)

ORIGINAL POST

I hope Regina Lee, who is the press secretary of Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin will read this post and show it to her boss for further action.

I don't think KJ himself read my insignificant anonymous blog.

Regina, if you don't show this post to KJ, I'm going to tell people again that Guan Eng is your fan, okay.

Actually, I received this via Wassap just now from my best friend who is a mother of a boy with autism and she requested for me to highlight it,

KJ said he cares for kids with autism.

You can read about it at this previous post,

Redha and a little story about KJ

Hopefully KJ will make the effort to see the boy.

Better than playing polo lah.

UPDATES

Apparently, KJ has responded just now on this matter.

Someone forwarded me this,

Cool.

TMJ vs KJ

Someone has been needling me to write something about the comments made by Tunku Mahkota Johor which were supposedly directed at Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

TMJ, according to that someone, was criticising KJ for being in the national polo team and having a high rank in the auxiliary Wataniah army.

That someone, who is a huge fan of TMJ said the prince was right about KJ being more interested in taking part in sports rather than being a minister of sports.

He said TMJ was also right to point out that he is a better polo player and military leader than KJ.

Personally, I think he got at least the second part right. TMJ has been playing polo since he was a kid and his royal family have their Timbalan Setia army.

I'm quite sure TMJ would easily beat KJ in a polo match or shooting competition.

Anyway, there's not much to comment on it other than that because KJ has been mostly quiet about the whole thing.

Smart guy. He knows that it's not wise to reply to the supposed TMJ's comments directed at him.

KJ is not Nazri Aziz, okay.

That's why he still survive (and prosper) after his father-in-law stepped down as PM in 2009.

I was actually impressed that  KJ took part in those sporting activities such as the Ironman challenge.

Sorts of leads by example.

Young sportsman managing the country's sports. It was good for his ministry's image.

But then again, TMJ may have a point, as according to his fan, who said if a minister is too much personally involved in the actual sports activities, then he may lose focus on ministering the sports itself.

Player-manager is actually not such a good concept after all.

Maybe KJ should ponder on it.

Meanwhile, this is something great for Malaysian sports,

Jun Hoong wins historic gold medal

Diving is definitely now a world medal prospect for Malaysia.

Maybe KJ should push the sports more into prominence so that more youngsters will be interested to take part in it.

He can learn to dive himself, just the same way he tried with the other sports.

No need for him to take part in SEA Games or anything like that la but maybe he can later on do a promotional video of the sports with him doing some fancy moves diving into the pool.

KJ may even invite TMJ to compete with him in a special diving competition after that.

I'm quite sure that will create quite a splash in and outside the pool.

KJ may even win that one.

Okay, on a more serious sporting mode, here's a compilation video of Jun Hoong in action ;

To be or not to be Bumiputera?

I think this is going to be difficult,

Gov’t to study Indian Muslims’ request to be Bumiputera

As far as I know,

Bumiputera definition that been used is based on Federation Constitution Of Malaysia :

• Peninsular Malaysia

“If one of the parents is Muslim Malay or Orang Asli as stated in Article 160 (2) Federal Constitution of Malaysia; thus the child is considered as a Bumiputra”.

• Sabah

“If a father is a Muslim Malay or indigenous native of Sabah as stated in Article 160A (6)(a) Federal Constitution of Malaysia; thus his child is considered as a Bumiputra”.

• Sarawak

“If both of the parent are indigenous native of Sarawak as stated in Article 160A (6)(b) Federal Constitution of Malaysia; thus their child is considered as a Bumiputra”.

Well, that's as according to the Constitution.

However, I know that there are many Indian Muslims who had one way or another became Malays, thus Bumiputera.

I even have a friend whose parents were born in India but brothers whose birth certificate stated that they are Malays.

They even got to study in MRSM and later furthered their study on Mara scholarship because of that.

My friend, however, for some unclear reasons, have a birth certificate which stated that he is an Indian Muslim.

Weird right?

There are other stories like that.

Probably that's why some people tend to question the ethnicity of those with traces of Indian ancestry who claimed themselves to be Malays.

Some even argued that former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not a real Malay because he got Indian blood. But I don't think that's right because his mother was definitely a Malay and was said to be a descendant of the famous 18th century Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Wan Muhammad Saman Wan Ismail who introduced large scale paddy farming in the state. So, Dr Mahathir as per constitution is definitely a Malay and a Bumiputera.

I think it's the same case with his friend-turned-enemy-turned-friend again DS Anwar Ibrahim who some also said to have Indian blood.

Well, actually this Bumiputera thing is just not confined to Indian Muslims.

I also know of one guy whose parents are Chinese who converted to Islam but was admitted to study at UiTM (at that time it was still ITM and exclusively for Bumiputera).

Guess, he also have a birth certificate which stated that he is a Malay.

Personally, I don't have a problem about individuals who attained the Bumiputera status in such a way.

If they or their parents were so keen to be a Bumiputera that they did all kind of things possible for it, I think they should then be allowed to  be Bumiputera.

You see, they were even willing to be officially known as Malays instead of their true ethnic selves, which I think is quite a sacrifice.

Even more so, they genuinely tried very hard to live as Malays.

Not bad, but the ladies should wear baju kurung la instead of saree, okay

So, I don't mind these people getting their Bumiputera status.

What I don't agree to, is for people to say that they want the Bumiputera status but not willing to do anything to deserve it.

If I'm PM DS Najib Razak, I would tell the Indian Muslims who demanded the Bumiputera status that if they really wanted that, then their community need to stop being Indian Muslims and become Malays, or Orang Asli or whatever it takes per the constitution to qualify as Bumiputera.

At least make the effort for it lah.

Don't simply demand something like that, especially just because the general election is coming.

Not nice like that, okay. Sounds like blackmail.

Anyway, I really don't mind anyone else from other ethnic background to be Bumiputera.

But I think they need to be sincere about it and submit to what the constitution dictates over the matter.

Or at least try the best to be so.

For instance, if you are a Chinese and want the Bumiputera status, then stop being a Chinese and try to be a Malay or Orang Asli or whatever it takes to be Bumiputera as per the constitution.

Do something like that, and not just bitch about it, okay.

Well, actually I find that a bit silly though.

Why would a Chinese wants to be a Malay in the first place?

I wouldn't do that.

I would be proud of being a Chinese.

After all, the Chinese in Malaysia as a community are doing better than others in almost every aspect of life and they are being so without such things as Bumiputera status.

So, I don't think they really need it anyway.

For more reading about Bumiputera, please click on this link,

Bumiputera

Malaysia must not join Arab states against Qatar

Being neutral is  better than going headlong blindly into a fight.

This is so, especially, when we are not sure what the fight is really all about or when it doesn't even concerned us.

I know, some of you all find this unacceptable and want us to take sides and fight no matter what.

You are with us or against us, they said.

Honestly, that's tiring.

Really guys, it's okay to be neutral and chill out when we need to do that.

That's my stand in the Najib-Dr Mahathir fight.

I prefer that than getting a bloodied nose for stupidly fighting just because that's what the crowd are doing.

Malaysia itself tends to be neutral most of the time.

During the Cold War, even though we were closer to the West, we still maintain friendly relations with the Eastern bloc of that time.

In fact, Malaysia is one of the more active members of the Non-Aligned Movement, which promotes world peace. Being non- aligned, means we do not take sides, especially of the big powers, in their fights. We instead took in the facts of such conflicts and be objective about it.

This philosophy is the hallmark of Malaysia's foreign policy since back then.

That's how we as a small country survive at world stage all these while.

That's why I was quite concerned when told by my sources today that there were people at the highest level of the government who wanted our country to take sides in the dispute between Qatar and a few other Arab countries.

Seriously, why the hell do we need to get mixed up in that Arab quarrel.

I really thought we were all doing well on the matter when the Foreign Ministry issued this statement on June 29,

Malaysia shares deep and abiding relations with all countries involved in the difficulties surrounding Qatar and some Arab countries which began on 5 June 2017. Our relations are across the whole sphere of human activity – particularly cultural, religion, economic and people-to-people. For this reason, these difficulties are a matter of deep concern for the Government and people of Malaysia.

Referring to the Media Statement made by Datuk Sri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on 27 June 2017 on the matter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia would like to emphasise that Malaysia has been in constant contact with all the countries involved since the beginning of these difficulties. YAB Prime Minister and YB Foreign Minister have been communicating with their counterparts across the Muslim world since that time, in order to apprise each other of the latest developments as well as to find a resolution to these difficulties. During these contacts, Malaysia has emphasised its neutrality. At the same time, we have offered to play any constructive role that the parties involved feel is required. This offer and concern have been well received and appreciated.

At the same time however, the involved countries have expressed their hope for other countries and international organisations to provide the countries involved the opportunity to resolve these difficulties through their own regional framework, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as well as the mediation efforts of the Emir of Kuwait. Malaysia and other countries outside the GCC respects their wishes. Consequently, we will support all efforts by the GCC and the Emir of Kuwait.

At the same time, we will continue our policy of neutrality. But it is a policy of “active neutrality”, our offer to play a constructive role still stands – we will continue our contacts with all parties concerned, and we will continue to urge them to take all necessary steps to de-escalate tensions.

Malaysia hopes for a speedy and amicable solution to these difficulties – it can only be a boon to the Muslim world as a whole. At the same time, we remain committed to combatting and confronting terrorism and extremism, and support all efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.

I was told that the people who wanted us to take sides in the dispute wanted Malaysia to be with the other Arab states going against Qatar.

The other Arab states accused Qatar of supporting terrorism, among others, and have since last month placed the tiny but rich Gulf state in isolation.

That was a bit weird to me because Qatar appeared to be more progressive and modern compared to those other Arab states.

Notwithstanding all that, it made me wondered what were the motives of those people in the government who wanted us to also join those other Arabs in isolating Qatar.

Personal vested interests, maybe?

Hopefully not so.

Anyway, I was told that Qatar has about RM50 billion in investments in Malaysia.

Those who wanted us to go against that country should think what would happen if Qatar pull out those investments.

Then there are those Malaysians who now work in Qatar. How about them if we want to boycott that country?

And, really, what is it again the purpose of us to even consider taking sides in that Arab quarrel?

I hope PM DS Najib Razak will not listen to those people.

Let's be friends with all those Arab countries and try help them settle the dispute instead of ourselves joining in the fight.

Let us be smart about this, okay.

Towards a more Islamic state (updated)

(Note: Updates at the bottom of the original post)

ORIGINAL POST

This is an interesting development,

Kelantan passes Syariah bill allowing public whipping

I wonder why it takes them so long to do it.

Pas has been ruling Kelantan for decades after all.

Also noted that the bill was passed unanimously at the state legislative assembly.

That means all the Pas, BN, and Amanah's Husam Musa, the single Pakatan Harapan assemblyman in the state legislature supported the bill.

So, no one should complain, okay.

That's what the Kelantanese want, that's what they are going to get.

This is part of democracy, after all.

Those assemblymen are representatives of the Kelantanese people.

Since they all agreed to it, that means the people agreed too.

That's good, what.

Maybe it will makes the state even more Islamic.

More syariah compliant, I guess.

I bet the Kelantanese who are not living in Kelantan are also agreeable to it.

Maybe it's nice to balik kampung and feel the more Islamic atmosphere.

That includes the funny Datuk Zaid Ibrahim. He's Kelantanese too. Datuk, balik kampung jangan nakal-nakal, nanti kena rotan :)

Well, people of the other dominantly Malay-Muslim states of Terengganu, Pahang, Kedah and Perlis may want the same thing.

They should know what to do in the next general election, if they want that.

Come to think of it, Malay Muslims in the other less Islamic states, should do the same.

Who knows, it may happen in their state too.

Nothing to lose to try, right?

After all, it's a good way to eradicate all the sinful activities.

Maybe after that, other countries can also learn from us.

One thing for sure, I'm going to recommend this to my Japanese friends.

It's a good way to shut down their awful porno industry and put a stop to all the other sinful activities in that otherwise beautiful country.

Imagine all those AV stars being lined up to be publicly caned at Kabukicho. I'm sure all the Tokyo yakuza running the "entertainment" outlets there will run for cover.

Okay, that's all.

Cheers.

UPDATES

Found this video of public whipping in Acheh, Indonesia. I think the one in Kelantan will be like this,

The public seem to enjoy the spectacle.

Well, some people like these sort of things.

At least it's not like this one, which is in Sudan,

Or this one somewhere in Pakistan,

Friends should always be friends

Went out just twice over the weekend.

To meet my cousin at her UiTM campus in Dengkil and to attend the wedding reception of a friend's daughter in Putrajaya.

My cousin had wanted to borrow some money while my friend, whom I have not met for quite a while surprised me when he invited me for his daughter's wedding.

About two years ago, he invited me to his other daughter's wedding but I didn't go because I was trying to avoid some people from the camp of PM DS Najib Razak that I despised as I knew they would be there.

By the way, my friend is one of Najib's senior aides. He is the one I featured in this previous post,

Memories of Pekan and the time Annie asked Najib for money

I wrote that post at a time when I almost stop blogging because of the Najib-Dr Mahathir war.

Honestly, I was surprised that my friend still invited me to attend the wedding this time because I had made it known that I'm no longer supporting Umno.

Well, to be more exact, I had made it known that I don't support any political parties anymore as I prefer to be a neutral observer. You all can read that at this other previous post of mine,

• Completely neutral and disengaged

These days, I just write as I see things. If BN were wrong I would say that they were wrong, and if they were right, I would write that they were right. The same goes with the opposition.

Of course I got whacked by both sides in the comments section because of that. It all depends on which side each particular posting seems to favour.

I believe in freedom of expression, so I tried to publish all those comments. Only the extremely bad ones were spiked off.

Anyway, my friend was at the entrance of the hall when I arrived at the wedding reception.

I was pleasantly surprised when he did something upon seeing me which made me felt that our friendship was truly genuine.

It was very nice of him.

All those pro-Najib people who accused me of things such as being a paid DAP cybertrooper because of my postings which pointed out the bad things in BN and Umno would be shocked if they saw us at that moment.

Despite being a staunch Najib's supporter, my friend didn't seems to subscribe to the "either you are with us or against us" nonsense peddled by those who are over eager to show their support for the prime minister.

I believe my friend read this blog. He once told me he did so. So, he must know that I'm now politically neutral.

It was also nice to meet some other friends at the function, including those I know to be not supportive of the Najib's administration.

When I think about it, I felt that it was so unfortunate that so many people took politics too seriously that they discarded friends just because they were no longer in the same camp.

I can understand if they did that because they were directly fighting for different masters.

After all, some of the words they used were very coarse and hurtful.

But in cases of those who choose to be on the sideline like myself, I think that's not right.

It's only politics, after all.

Friends should always be friends, okay.

Here's a song on that, 

Wahid is still a good guy (updated)

(Note: Updates at the end of the original post)

ORIGINAL POST

Cooped up in my room since morning.

Just resting.

These days I hardly go out during the weekends as I'm still not completely well.

Surfed around for something to write but can't find anything really interesting except maybe this post by Datuk Kadir Jasin,

PNB Beli PNB1 Dengan Harga RM173,800

Kadir even published several What'sApp exchanges between him and PNB chairman TS Abdul Wahid Omar.

excerpts;

Saya menghantar pesanan WhatsApp berikut kepada Abdul Wahid: “Assalamualaikum. Maaf mengganggu. Saya cuba beberapa kali hubungi Jabatan Perhubungan Awam PNB (Encik Khamis Omar) tetapi tidak ada respons. Boleh bercakap dengan kerani saja. Saya hendak pengesahan mengenai dokumen yang tular di media sosial, termasuk hasil posting (mengenai) Rumah Terbuka PNB beberapa hari lalu, iaitu kononnya PNB membelanjakan wang yang banyak membida nombor plat khas Pulau Pinang PNB. Pengesahan ini untuk tulisan saya. Terima kasih.”.

Dalam responsnya Abdul Wahid berkata: “Penempahan nombor pendaftaran kenderaan siri PNB adakah untuk kegunaan kenderaan-kenderaan PBN. Ini termasuk cawangan ASB bergerak, MPV Hotel PNB Perdana, dll dalam usaha mempertingkatkan penjenamaan PNB.”

Saya membalas: “Terima kasih. I’ll duly reflect your argument in my writing. But you may want to search your conscience whether spending RM173,800 for PNB1 is worth the publicty drive and the penjenamaan.”

I'm not sure whether buying the plate number was worth its branding purposes, but I believe it was a corporate decision by the PNB's management.

Maybe they had done their calculations well and decided it's worth spending.

It's a bit like Petronas spending hundreds of million ringgit in sponsorships for its F1 branding exposure. Some people said it's good, others said it's wasteful.

Lay person like me can't really tell, isn't it.

This also reminds me of back then when Sultan of Johor bought a special plate number at a considerable price. Many Johoreans came out in support of the Sultan when others said it was wasteful.

Anyway, I was actually more interested in what Kadir wrote about Wahid in that post.

I may got this wrong, but reading through it, I felt that Kadir was actually questioning Wahid's credibility.

excerpts ;

Dalam dialog WhatsApp yang lebih awal dengan saya, Abdul Wahid berhujah: “....I have been entrusted to lead PNB, this very important national institution. Brought in Rahman as CEO in October 2016. Unveiled our PNB Strategic Plan 2017-2022. Now focussed on execution. Alhamdulillah initial outcome has been encouraging with market capitalisation of our strategic companies increasing by RM25 billion in the first 5 months of 2017. Indeed RM226b of our RM266b funds under management come from 13 million unitholders. Will do my best for PNB & the country.”

Jawapan saya: “Thank you. Your reputation has been tainted by your membership of the cabinet. So it’s hard for me to accept at face value that you’ll go back to become a fine manager thay you once were. I hope and pray that you can. Wallahuaklam.”

Abdul Wahid membalas: “Aamin. As a beneficiary of the DEB, I accepted (the) invite to do true national service. I believe I have done my utmost for the country within the one senatorship term with full integrity and to the best of my ability. I believe I am more optimal in the corporate sector. Will do my best as the third Chairman of PNB.”

Kadir added,

excerpts;

Boleh jadi ada orang tidak setuju atau curiga kalau saya kata, saya melihat Abdul Wahid sebagai seorang pengurus perniagaan yang pintar, tekun dan boleh dipercayai.

Tetapi itu adalah sebelum dia digoda oleh kuasa dan kedudukan dengan menerima jemputan Perdana Menteri, (Datuk Seri I Mappadulung Daeng Mattimung Karaeng Sandrobone Sultan Abdul Jalil) Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, untuk menjadi anggota kabinet pada tahun 2013.

Well, with all due respect to Kadir, I think Wahid has not turned bad or is going to turn bad anytime soon.

The fact that he took the initiative to reply to Kadir's Whatsapp messages and was very transparent over the plate number matter shows that he is still his good self as he has always been.

If he had turned bad, I don't think he would be bothered to reply to Kadir, who is now a prominent anti-Najib blogger.

As pointed out by Kadir, Wahid was appointed to the Cabinet in 2013. I believe that's after the last general election.

Do note that everyone who was pro-BN or pro-Umno was supporting Najib at that time.

That's before the start of the war with Dr Mahathir two years ago.

I highly doubted that Wahid had in 2013 agreed to join the Cabinet because he felt that he could become rich by doing bad things with the power of a minister and such.

The guy doesn't seems to change at all from back then till now.

Simple and unassuming. At least that's how I see him.

I actually met Wahid recently and he told me that he has no political ambition whatsoever.

He said his stint in the Cabinet was purely for fulfilling his national duty.

He told me all that because I have been suggesting for him to contest the parliamentary seat of his hometown, Johor Baru. Current MP TS Shahrir Samad is past 70 and he doesn't seem to have a successor.

Wahid was actually horrified by my suggestion.

"That's exactly why I'm no longer in the Cabinet," he said with a little laugh.

Well, I thought having someone like Wahid as a candidate in JB was the best chance for BN to replace Shahrir there. BN still have over 10,000 majority there in the last election but in 2008, it had double of that.

Whatever it is, I still think Wahid is a good guy and PNB is safe with him at the top.

The guy doesn't seems to have an ounce of evil in himself.

I believe that he's one of those Johoreans who strictly follow the book and not stray from the right path.

A bit like former Johor MB TS Abdul Ghani Othman who is now heading Sime Darby, if I may add.

UPDATES

Apparently, Wahid took the trouble to send a reply to Kadir'.

I cut and paste this from Kadir's comment section as he had only put it there instead of making it as a proper update of his posting,

“Assalamualaikum wbt & salam sejahtera,

Saya dengan segala hormatnya merujuk kepada tampalan blog YBhg Datuk A Kadir Jasin 8 Julai 2017 berkenaan pembidaan nombor pendaftaran kenderaan siri PNB. Izinkan saya memberikan pencerahan berkenaan isu yang disebutkan.

1. Sebagai seorang ahli korporat, saya percaya bahawa penjenamaan korporat itu adalah penting untuk memperkukuhkan penambahbaikan secara fundamental sesebuah organisasi. Ini berdasarkan prinsip atau falsafah "Form without substance will not get you anywhere. But when you combine form with substance, you will go a long way". Falsafah korporat ini telah saya laksanakan dengan jayanya semasa menerajui Kumpulan UEM-Renong (2001-2004), Telekom Malaysia (2004-2008) dan Maybank (2008-2013).

2. Saya berbesar hati kerana telah diberi kepercayaan untuk menerajui Kumpulan PNB sebagai Pengerusi Kumpulan pada 1 Ogos 2016. Saya dan Dato' Abdul Rahman Ahmad yang telah dilantik sebagai Presiden & Ketua Eksekutif Kumpulan telah membentangkan Pelan Strategik PNB 2017-2022 pada 26 November 2016. Pelan ini mensasarkan PNB menjadi sebuah firma pelaburan distinktif bertaraf dunia dengan 3 teras strategi utama iaitu i. Meningkatkan Pulangan Secara Mapan; ii. Memacu Kecemerlangan Operasi dan iii. Pengurusan Pelaburan Berkesan . Pasukan PNB sedang giat melaksanakan Pelan Strategik ini dan Alhamdulillah, reaksi awal pasaran amat memberangsangkan dimana nilai pasaran 6 syarikat-syarikat strategik PNB telah meningkat sebanyak RM31 bilion untuk 6 bulan pertama 2017. Pasukan PNB juga telah berjaya melaksanakan migrasi sistem teknologi maklumat (IT) semasa cuti Hari Raya Aidilfitri baru-baru ini yang membolehkan transaksi unit saham amanah ASB/ASN, dll dilakukan tanpa menggunakan buku simpanan lagi. Ini telah memudahkan lagi pelabur untuk berurusan dengan ASNB.

3. PNB telah ditubuhkan pada tahun 1978 dan bakal menyambut ulangtahun ke 40 pada tahun hadapan 2018. Kami sedang dalam perancangan untuk memperkukuhkan jenama PNB. Kebetulan siri nombor kenderaan "PNB" ditawarkan oleh JPJ untuk bidaan pada bulan April 2017. Kami telah memohon daripada Menteri Pengangkutan supaya 25 siri nombor PNB (1,2,3,8,10,11,18,20,30,50,60,70,80,90,100,111,118,200,300,400,500,600,700, 800 & 900) dikhususkan kepada PNB tanpa pembidaan. Walaubagaimanapun kami telah diminta oleh JPJ untuk membida nombor-nombor tersebut seperti umum. Jumlah bidaan adalah RM336,059 berdasarkan purata bidaan nombor siri PMY,PMX dan PMW. Ia telah ditingkatkan kepada RM419,006 untuk memastikan PNB mendapat kesemua 25 siri nombor tersebut (purata RM16,760 untuk satu nombor). Nombor-nombor tersebut adalah untuk kegunaan kenderaan-kenderaan rasmi Kumpulan PNB termasuk cawangan ASNB bergerak, kenderaan Hotel-hotel PNB Perdana, PNB Merdeka 118, dll.

“4. Kami membuat keputusan berdasarkan apa yang kami fikir terbaik untuk PNB dalam jangkamasa panjang. Nombor-nombor tersebut bakal menjadi aset jenama PNB dan pembayarannya dibuat secara langsung kepada JPJ tanpa melalui mana-mana agen atau pihak ketiga. Untuk makluman, dana RM419,006 datangnya dari dana milik PNB yang berjumlah RM40 bilion bukan dari dana milik pelabur-pelabur ASNB yang berjumlah RM226 bilion. Jadi, pembelian nombor-nombor tersebut tidak akan menjejaskan pulangan kepada pelabur-pelabur sama sekali.

5. Untuk pengetahuan, Alhamdulillah saya selesa menggunakan kereta nasional Proton Perdana sebagai kereta rasmi dengan nombor pendaftaran W8D. Nombor tersebut adalah satu manfaat yang saya perolehi semasa berkhidmat sebagai Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (2013-2016). Sebagai seorang daripada keluarga miskin yang telah diberikan pendidikan dan biasiswa di bawah Dasar Ekonomi Baru, saya amat terhutang budi kepada Kerajaan dan Negara Malaysia. Sebab itulah saya bersedia berkhidmat selama satu penggal dan membuat yang terbaik mengikut kemampuan saya.

6. Saya bersama-sama Ahli-ahli Lembaga Pengarah PNB, Dato' Rahman dan barisan pengurusan PNB akan terus menjalankan amanah yang telah diberikan kepada kami demi kepentingan PNB, 13 juta pelabur-pelabur ASNB dan negara kita Malaysia. Sokongan berterusan rakan-rakan semua amat kami hargai.

Terima kasih & salam hormat.

AWO. 08.07.17.”


See, the guy is very pro-active and transparent.

Berbudi bahasa some more.

Wahid is cool, okay.