tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60061882024-03-14T02:46:27.839+08:00JourneymanWhen the exterior crumbles , it is the heart that matters ...
Simple blog of a Muarianamokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.comBlogger437125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-53169074936797042982013-08-08T21:13:00.001+08:002013-08-08T21:13:42.188+08:00How to get to Ban Chiang<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ban Chiang, one of the 7 Unesco World Heritage sites in Thailand and perhaps the one that is most under-appreciated among all. It does not help that it is the sole site in the North East of the country in Isaan. If it is considered with a visit to the 2 other World Heritage sites in Laos, then coming to Ban Chiang does not require more effort. The significance of this site is that is showed that South East Asia were in bronze and Iron age 2500 years earlier than previous understanding. As a history student, I have always wanted to visit this site when I studied about it long time ago and amazed that even Thais do not know that it existed.</div>
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Anyway, the easiest way to come here is to go through Udon Thani than Nong Kai or Sakron Nakron. You can opt for a special trip or to use the public transport. For public transport, make sure you are at the bus station 1 ( there are 2 bus stations). From the Udon Thani train station, it is just a 10 minute walk to bus station 1. Once you are at the bus station, look for the bus that goes to Sakron Nakron (First bus goes off at 0600 and last bus goes at 1720, with intervals of 30 to 40 minutes). It will cost about BHT400 when you tell the conductor that you are alighting at Ban Chiang. (If you are in Bus station 2, you should be able to do the same if the bus is going to Nakron Panom) At the Ban Chiang Junction, you should opt for the tuk tuk that will cost BHT60 for the 7km ride. I paid for both way and included BHT40 as tips. Its really worth the money. </div>
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Checking out the rural area during the drive. Loads of paddy fields and other interesting view.<br />
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Lovely space outside the museum.<br />
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One of the better museums in Thailand that I have been so far. The facility for the physically challenged is adequate. Signage in Thai and English and is worth the read.<br />
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The view in the town. There are now shops and commercial entities developed around the town. Do check out the town market if you have time.<br />
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The archeological pit in Wat Pho Sri Nai is a must visit. Situated more than 500 metres away from the museum, i would suggest that you use the tuk tuk. Here, you can really see the extend of the dig that happened in the midst of the temple and in the middle of the village.<br />
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The tuk tuk will bring you back to the junction and to the bus station on the opposite site. Wait for the next bus back to Udon Thani and it will cost you BHT450 ( i think it is the cost of picking you up for the additional BHT50). Overall , the visit can be achieved within 3-4 hours.<br />
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<i>National Museum Ban Chiang</i><br />
<i>Moo 13, Sutthipong Road Ban Chiang, Nong Han, Udon Thani 41320</i><br />
<i>Open Every Tuesday to Sunday and National Holiday from 0900-1600.</i><br />
<i>Tel: 0 4220 8340</i>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-71289751008185470622011-02-02T14:37:00.006+08:002011-02-11T14:26:17.523+08:00Updated: Spammed by Malaysian Prime Minister<em><strong>Update: The reply from Customer Service</strong></em><br /><br />Appreciate your respond.<br />If Government owns Maxis, then quite surely Maxis did not do wrong. The fact that Maxis is a public listed company should distint itself and ensure total data privacy considerations.<br />If the government requires certain action, they can go to the court to obtain an injuction on why such action should be done. It is certaintly is not a practice in Malaysia yet for that kind of genuine respect to be given to customers. <br />I insist that this issue be escalated to your management that UNLESS it is a grave situation of imminent danger, such a service should not be allowed to be used at the whims and fancies. MCMC does not have power to order compliance and they should stick to their role. <br /><br />Also, it does not absolve the way your customer service is discharging Maxis from its responsibility. In short, i am not happy with your solution nor the lack of apology.<br /><br />+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br /><br />Dear Mr. Joseph, Thank you for contacting Maxis and we apologize for any inconvenience caused.We were unable to reach you to clarify and explain further on your query.<br />Kindly revert with a contactable number and a suitable time for us to call you:-<br /><br />Nevertheless, referring to your feedback below, we have investigated and found that the SMS was not sent by an external content provider and therefore there is no breach with regards to customer confidentiality.<br /><br />The SMS was sent direct by Maxis upon request by Prime Minister’s Department. Customer Confidentiality is extremely important to us and we would like to assure you that we will not disclose our customer's information to any 3rd party as we take our obligations to protect our customers’ data integrity, very seriously. <br /><br />I hope the above explanation has been able to address your concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any further assistance on this matter. <br />Thank you. Yours sincerely,<br />Devendra AdrianCustomer Relations UnitCustomer Operations<br /><em><strong></strong></em><br /><em><strong>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</strong></em><br /><br /><em><strong>"Salam 1Malaysia. Selamat tahun baru cina kepada semua rakyat terutama kepada kaum cina. Ikhlas Dari Najib Razak Dan keluarga. Najib@1malaysia.com.my "<br /></strong><br /><br /></em><span style="font-size:130%;">Yes! Got sms from 'old friend' Najib. How did the Prime Minister of Malaysia got my phone number?<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><em><br /></em>Called Maxis to their customer service (123) and they say that it's an external provider who generated phone number on random. I was assured that no such thing would come from Maxis and they would block that number.<br /><br />Then, their customer service called back that 62002 is unregistered and they cannot detect in their system. So, how does government got hold of my phone number and how do they access Maxis network? I am totally unhappy that a third party provider is able to access the network and are able to obtain my phone number. The person said that he will investigate and call back.<br /><br />I then got a sms to give feedback on their customer service. Noticed that the number is 20002. The spam came from 62002 and the customer service is from 20002. Hemm....<br /><br />From their explanation, they seemed unconcerned. By now, I have got information that the same message is spammed by the other 2 Malaysian Telco provider - Digi and Celcom. And later in the day, even Citibank in Malaysia got into the act of misusing access to customer data to send unsolicited, unnecessary sms to its user.<br /><br /><em>Does Maxis, Celcom , Digi and Citibank protect the privacy of their customers?<br /><br />Does Maxis, Celcom , Digi and Citibank have the concern of their customers at heart?<br /><br />At least DIGI customer service is upfront that the government of Najib Razak through MCMC forced them to broadcast this. FORCED! What is a regulator like MCMC forcing telecommunication companies to propagate ?<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568983697092995666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 156px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/TUkBKrEralI/AAAAAAAACT8/X9xNDPir8D8/s400/166842_10150185798964129_642934128_8687997_6581894_n.jpg" border="0" /><br />A webchat between my friend and Digi customer service with a transparent description of what it is .. a forced spam.<br /></em><br /><em>Malaysia is becoming more like Tunisia and Egypt by the systemic abuse of power by the government. And the businesses are just too happy to make the government happy by forsaking the rights of their customers.<br /><br />Maxis , utterly disappointed by your lies and pretence. No apologies so far even when I said that i want explanation from higher management. I am keen to review my 12 year relationship with you Mr Maxis because you have betrayed the trust.</em><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>MAXIS lied!</strong></span>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-60824538492793989972010-08-09T09:17:00.005+08:002010-08-09T10:28:34.345+08:00Abraham with Isaac or Ishmael?I have been preached many times by Muslims that the bible we are reading has been changed by the church, similar to the works of Dan Brown. This story have been told many times in attempts to convert me and indeed is quite a passionate agreement. Almost similar passion displayed to the defense that MCA is not about money.<br /><div></div><br /><div>One of the great 'urban legend' is the story of Abraham and Isaac/ Ishmael which is also the 'evidence' of the conspiracy of the Jews and Christians to uphold Isaac and dethrone Ishmael. </div><br /><div><a href="http://www.islam101.com/religions/christianity/sacrifice.htm">Islamic arguments </a></div><div><a href="http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/sacrifice.htm">Contrarian perspectives</a></div><br /><div>So, it is clear that there is no verse in the Quran and traditions that provided the proof, hence the continual divergent among Muslim theologians in contrast with the Christian and Jews's stand. </div><br /><div></div><div>My thinking is a bit more shallow.</div><br /><div></div><div>Muslims believe in the 4 books - Torah (Old Testament ), Zabur ( Psalms ) , Injil (New testament ) and Quran. </div><div>Note that the earlier 3 are books that 'is in the original state and not that has been corrupted by human/church'. So far, no evidence where these real books are.It is claimed that the church has them.</div><div>(Reminds me of Ezam Mohd Nor who claimed that he has 6 boxes of proof against Anwar Ibrahim and then Ezam says that Anwar have the 6 boxes instead. )</div><br /><div></div><div>Lets say we take the face value of the current 4 books hear what they say about Abraham and Isaac/Ishmael.</div><div></div><div>1.Torah - Isaac</div><div>2.Psalms - Indicated Isaac (the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.105:9)</div><div>3.NT- Isaac</div><div>4.Koran - no name mentioned.</div><br /><div></div><div>So, at best 3-1 score or 2-0. </div><div>So, take your pick on the evidences on the table and am still amazed on how people can be convinced with these arguments. (and be converted)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Anyway, to digress.</div><div>1. Paran - is a small town historically mentioned by Arab explorers etc. to be in the Sinai Peninsular, "Ibn Khaldun clearly places Faran in the Sinai peninsula, at the northern end of the Red Sea. Faran is associated geographically with Midian and with Aila (ancient Elath, modern Elat, located at the end of the Gulf of Aqaba). " So, Paran is not Mecca. (<a href="http://www.studytoanswer.net/myths_ch6.html">Read</a>)</div><br /><div>2. Lets say Paran is Mecca. Wonder how Abraham goes of with Ishmael and mom to Mecca ( probably a few years journey at those times) , stick around to build the Kaaba and then went back after the holiday. Did he bring the whole tribe or part of it? Did he leave his other wife behind with the newborn? Who was the designated leader when he is on leave? </div><div>That is easily 1500 km on foot accross desert just to go to Mecca. And he was already in the 'promised land' that God told him he would be (which is waaaaay up north)</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503226916393017474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 358px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/TF9juR35YII/AAAAAAAACTg/PbzzF-KXV2s/s400/604r.gif" border="0" />Anyway, you believe what you believe. The devil is however, in the details.<br /><div></div>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-52897704979967825212010-07-29T13:14:00.002+08:002010-07-29T13:16:52.408+08:00Crossing borders<span style="font-size:130%;">If you cross the North Korean border illegally<br />You get 12 years hard labour.<br /><br />If you cross the Iranian border illegally<br />You are detained indefinitely.<br /><br />If you cross the Afghan border illegally<br />You get shot.<br /><br />If you cross the Saudi Arabian border illegally<br />You will be jailed.<br /><br />If you cross the Chinese border illegally<br />You may never be heard again.<br /><br />If you cross the Venezuelan border illegally<br />You will be branded a spy and your fate will be sealed.<br /><br />If you cross the Cuban border illegally<br />You will be thrown into political prison to rot.<br /><br />If you cross the British border illegally<br />You will be arrested, prosecuted and sent to prison and deported<br /><br /><strong>If you are an Indonesian/Filipino Muslim and cross the Malaysian border illegally </strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><br />You will get:<br />- My PR (Permanent Residence)<br />- A driving license<br />- Voting rights</strong></span>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-65194969294370869622010-07-26T15:21:00.002+08:002010-07-26T15:24:07.297+08:00Oxford sanctions questionnable business practices?Awaiting reply from Oxford University and Loreal AG.<br /><br /><br />+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br />cmillot@loreal-finance.com<br /> <br />Appreciate if you can forward this to your corporate communications partner in central. L'Oreal is a sponsor for a chair in Oxford University and they have chosen to work with a personality that has very low concern on diversity and environment.<br /> <br />Merci <br /><br />+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br />Subject: Regret in the choice of Said Business School's speaker for The Inaugural Oxford Global Islamic Branding and Marketing Forum<br />To: oliver.shiell@sbs.ox.ac.uk<br /><br /><br /><br />Dear Sir<br /> <br />As concerned citizens in Malaysia and as volunteers to the state of Sarawak where we tried to help to locals who were marginalized and suffered. <br />It is with great regret to hear of the choice of your main speaker of Mohd Taib Mahmud, the Chief Ministers of Sarawak to the Inaugural Oxford Global Islamic Branding and Marketing Forum <br />http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/newsandevents/conferences/OGIBMF/Pages/default.aspx<br /> <br />It would be great for an exteemed business school to be extremely careful with your selection of speakers. A simple querry via internet would reveal who the speaker is and the vested interest of Tanjung Manis Halal hub, which is linked to questionable business practices. However, my concern has been on the impact of environmental deforestation and the lack of justice to the aborogines in the state where this said person is governing. Please take a look at some of my personal postings<br /> <br />http://amoker.blogspot.com/2009/02/worst-flood-in-baram-sarawak-since-1963.html<br />http://amoker.blogspot.com/2008/09/rights-of-aboringines.html<br />http://amoker.blogspot.com/2008/10/malaysia-continue-to-pressure-natives.html<br />http://amoker.blogspot.com/2008/09/introducing-kayans-and-penans.html<br />http://amoker.blogspot.com/2010/07/raping-sarawakians-andlive-like-king.html<br /> <br />The local media has repeatedly uses your university's name and the locals are wondering on how an esteemed organisation like Oxford can be so simplistic in its approach. <br /> <br />As such, we would appreciate a solid response from the organisors to justify its selection from the view of ethical business practices and even, Islamic governance & justice. <br /> <br />Cheersamokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-6398452169925450472010-07-22T15:02:00.001+08:002010-07-22T15:06:44.649+08:00Angeh, the Orang Asli in MalaysiaAngeh, however, confirmed that financial incentives were involved in the conversion of Orang Asli. He claimed that Saidon and Sharifudin told him that if he was married, he would receive the RM1,000 allocated for a Muslim couple.
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<br />According to his story, Angeh, then 18, agreed to marry his 20-something-year-old bride, Wak Chin. He said they were brought to Tambun, Perak and married together with nine other couples.
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<br />His wife had to convert to Islam as well to get married. "Her Muslim name is Aminah," Angeh said.
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<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">However, Angeh claimed he and his wife did not receive any money after their wedding.
<br /></span>He further claimed that Saidon had also told him that as a Muslim, he would be able to get a job at the Gombak Hospital. However, this never materialised, and today Angeh works as a grass cutter.
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<br /><<a href="http://www.coac.org.my/codenavia/portals/coacv2/code/main/main_art.php?parentID=0&artID=12734895488906">Read</a>>
<br />amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-35668655204508738572010-07-12T18:04:00.001+08:002010-07-12T18:07:13.448+08:00Yes, Long live the Spanish<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/TDrpD7k1mOI/AAAAAAAACTU/086KfTkCj6k/s1600/article-1293928-0A67D29E000005DC-284_468x480.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492958949272819938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 390px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/TDrpD7k1mOI/AAAAAAAACTU/086KfTkCj6k/s400/article-1293928-0A67D29E000005DC-284_468x480.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/TDrpDtIUMxI/AAAAAAAACTM/ZN3v4GIGO1Q/s1600/shaolin.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492958945395094290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 358px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/TDrpDtIUMxI/AAAAAAAACTM/ZN3v4GIGO1Q/s400/shaolin.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">Congrats Spain! </div><div align="center">Endure the pain, </div><div align="center">Happy days.</div></div>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-5019835135207070292010-07-09T11:28:00.003+08:002010-07-09T11:32:52.290+08:00Raping Sarawakians andlive like a king.Yes, this is the son of the Sarawak Chief ministers who is paid RM20,000 per month in salary. He is the ex-Minister in the current ruling government. A minister material ....<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">The Philippines’ Lost Opportunity<br />Kevin C. Limjoco<br />IT ALL BEGAN AT A POSH ITALIAN CLOTHING boutique in Tiburon, Marin County, California. I was not shopping, but my friend was. He leaned over to me as we were browsing and asked: "have you ever heard of a Bugatti EB110, lah?" my eyes lit up and immediately said, "yes, of course, the car is awesome but aren’t they nearly impossible to find?" He simply smiled. It was the summer of 1994; my friend and I were juniors majoring in business at the University of San Francisco. His name is Datuk Sulaiman Rahman Taib. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">He is part of the Malaysian Monarchy, his father was and still is the Chief Minister of Sarawak, and his family owns over 100 companies, ranging from Sarawak Securities to logging, hence, the reason he refers to me as "lah" or buddy. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">He was the first person I knew that had personally owned a vast number of ultra exotic automobiles. People who did not know Rahman were perplexed and ultimately intimidated by him. He seemingly had a new car every couple of weeks, and had a dedicated car shop and storage facility, (Conversion Techniques owned by John Siao,) that catered to his every whim. He had everything from an old K-type Mercedes Benz worth over a million dollars, an SL Gullwing, Ferrari 355 spider, Rolls Royce Corniche, Maserati Kamsin, to a "regular" S500 Mercedes. He had so many cars that he would routinely send them off to his home in Sarawak to clear his garage of the clutter. Therefore, when he asked me whether I knew what a Bugatti EB 110 was, my palms started to moisten because I knew that Rahman takes his "hobby" very seriously. He has "agents" scour the globe looking for cars that he desires. As we stepped out of the boutique, he excitedly told me that he had not one, but two Bugatti EB 110s coming to San Francisco! One, he picked up from a Japanese fellow somewhere near Detroit and the other near Louisiana I believe. It is an amazing feat in its self that he was able to find these cars in the US and in the most unlikely locals. He never disclosed the amount he paid because he always felt it was rude to discuss figures amongst friends. Man, I was curious though, because at its height these cars were worth over US$500,000.00. Well, I will never know. He did not volunteer it and I never asked. The EB110 prices itself ‘humbly’ between the Lamborghini Diablo, Ferrari 512TR and the Jaguar XJ220. It seemed to be a bargain considering its high level of achievement and prestigious marques, but still world sales never made up for the cost of building and marketing the automobile. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Two weeks later I was over at Rahman’s for Sunday lunch when he motioned me to go with him to his garage, I was ecstatic. I knew well enough that he was anti-climatic. Bugatti built a grand total of 154 cars, which included the 12 cars in the assembly line. Michael Schumacher is one of the lucky owners. Moreover, Rahman has two of them! There it was… a black Bugatti EB110 SS! I was in awe. What a super car: mid-engine, 3.5liter, 12 cylinder, 60V, Quad cam, 4 turbo, All wheel drive, 6 speed, carbon fiber frame, six piston ABS brakes, 611 bhp, 0-100 in 3.4 seconds, 355 km/h top speed, and 480 lbs. torque! On top of this, the car’s interior boasted such luxuries as a full Burl wood interior, a proper luggage compartment, power everything, a CD changer and sculptured leather seats! </span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Rahman’s EB110SS is still the fastest car that I have ever had the privilege to ride in. One Sunday, we drove past a café on Broadway street in downtown San Francisco where all exotic car owners conglomerate to show off their steeds, you should have seen the piercing eyes of the Ferrari and Lamborghini owners as we inched by then had all 4 tires scream in unison as Rahman floored the car to the next block! The Bugatti is truly a rocket ship on wheels. I recall a race once where a Bugatti EB110 GT- the lesser of the brothers - challenged a Ferrari F40 in Laguna Seca. The Ferrari won by a hair, but the EB110 driver drove with his aircon on, stereo blaring, and sat in opulence. However, that is another story, sorry folks. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Because of the car and the research that Rahman made on purchasing it, a unique opportunity presented itself. Through his network of moles in the capital of sports cars, Modena, Italy, (home to Ferrari, De Tomaso, Masseratti, and Lamborghini), he discovered that the Bugatti factory - owned by Italian tycoon Romano Artioli - was going bankrupt. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">He quickly made contact with the owner only to find out in secret (a few months before the news went public) that the issue was already at the courts. Artioli had already filed for bankruptcy. Once again through his vast resources, Rahman had somehow sent his lawyers to Italy to jockey for position in the event that Bugatti would be sold. He miraculously secured the top position, above a list that included such huge names as Volkswagen and Fiat. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">At this point, it would seem that Rahman’s ambition to be a world force in the car industry would be insured. His driving force was as relentless as the car itself proved to be. His inspiration at the time (1994) was that Malaysia had just began producing their very own car line, Proton (through a partnership with Mitsubishi Motors Japan) and that Prime Minister Suharto of Indonesia had the majority stake of Lamborghini. He wanted to top them all! Now back to the Italian courts, the amount needed to purchase all of Bugatti, which included the entire factory in Modena, all land owned by Bugatti, all patents, designs, plans, trademarks, machinery, positions with sister companies and other manufacturers, and the remaining unpainted 12 EB110s in the factory, hold on to your seats: a "mere" US$25 million! </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Where did the Philippines fit in all of this? The ultimate plan was to have joint manufacturing facilities in Sarawak and the Philippines. Bugatti had a secret plan to build an affordable sports sedan that would compete with the BMW 3 series and the Mercedes Benz C-class. The EB110 would be revived again but built in Modena by order basis. The new sports sedan was designed with the help of Lotus to reduce building costs, using their experience with a more economical engine, chassis, suspension and coach works. The majority of the car would be built in Sarawak with the remaining 35% either in Subic or in Clark. In order for this vision to be realized, we had to give the courts a bank guarantee of US$5 Million to hold our position for 30 days. As a sweetener to individuals who helped get the bank guarantee, Rahman would give a brand new EB110 in any color from the last remaining stocks in Italy. This is where things get a little complicated. Though Rahman himself had access to the full US$25M, let alone a meager $5M guarantee, he still needed the 30 days to get approval and a final blessing from his father Datuk Taib without having committed any financial responsibilities. (That was left to me since I was gunning for a Philippine stake in this enterprise.) </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Within days we both left the US and head to our prospective countries to execute our plans. His task was to get ultimate approval; my task was to get the bank guarantee. Time was against us at every turn. It took Rahman a week to get an audience with his father. I on the other hand was scrabbling all over Manila looking for prospective investors to issue the guarantee. It was a lot more difficult than I had imagined convincing people of the exciting opportunity. What was ironic was that I only needed to cough up a guarantee and not the physical money. Rahman would be the one to pay for every cent after 30 days and not only would we be able to create jobs for our compatriots, but everyone would be justly compensated with a bonus of an EB110! We had a few days left now and Rahman’s father had not given his approval. I was hard pressed to keep trying, I knew that if we could get the position within 30 days that it would not be unreasonable to believe that Rahman would be able to draw the US$25M; he had it in his own bank accounts! The final hour arrived, Rahman did not get his father’s blessing, and I was short of US$2M. That was indeed a dark hour. I pleaded with Rahman to simply give the remaining balance for the guarantee, which would give him enough time to ask his father to reconsider. He would not budge. He resigned himself to the fact that it was a cultural difference and that I would not understand. I was flabbergasted. My dreams had crumbled. The loss of face on both parties was so great that it affected our friendship severely. A few weeks later, there was a public announcement at the press that Volkswagen had ultimately purchased what could have been a tremendous future for our fellow citizens. I end this story with a heavy heart, but who knows? As it once was said, "as one door closes, another will open." </span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">From ;</span><a href="http://www.bugattirevue.com/revue20/philipp.htm"><span style="color:#666666;">http://www.bugattirevue.com/revue20/philipp.htm</span></a><span style="color:#666666;"><br />Used with the permission of:Kevin C. LimjocoSenior EditorC! Magazine</span>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-80584126044055338812010-06-24T20:24:00.002+08:002010-06-24T20:25:03.557+08:00Cemerlang and Gemilang"Cemerlang means excellent. It is necessary to make a distinction between achievement and excellence. For example, it was doubtless an achievement for Abdul Malik Mydin to be the first Malaysian to swim the English Channel.<br /><br />However, his time of 17 hours and 42 minutes is short of excellent if we keep in mind that a 12-year-old girl Samantha Druce managed 15 hrs 28 mins. Even a 70-year-old, George Burnstad, did better at 15.59 than the 29-year-old Malik at 17.42.<br /><br />The Malay hero was nonetheless conferred a Datukship for his exploit, such ‘excellence’ as KPI-ed by our self-calibrated measure. Was it worth all the state-sponsored expense of Malik’s training under an Australian coach and ‘airflown’ to England for his almost 18-hour swim when the best channel crossers can complete the distance in under-seven hours?<br /><br />For that matter, why not carry out the Malaysia Boleh stunt, if they must, swimming from Langkawi to Kuala Kedah instead?<br /><br />It was however a different case with the second Malaysian to swim the channel that same year (2004). Lennard Lee was already based in England – at Cambridge University doing medicine, and at least his swim met a more useful objective, i.e. to raise funds for a cancer hospital.<br /><br />Clocking 9.45, Lee was faster than Malik by a whopping eight hours.<br /><br />More importantly, Lee did not land Malaysian taxpayers a hefty bill for ‘Satu lagi projek Barisan Nasional’.amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-46396596348896113522010-06-09T21:22:00.003+08:002010-06-09T21:28:35.578+08:00My letter to the CFO of Telecom MalaysiaTitle:Debtor chasing debtee (TM)<br /><br />Dear Sir,<br /><br />This is a story of irony.<br />I am a recognised debtor to TM’s Streamyx division since my account was activated in Nov 2009 and have been chasing your esteemed organisation to pay my debt.<br /><br />Here is a short summary.<br />1. Never received my bills from Nov 09 till now.<br /><br />2. Have updated my mailing address 5 times with different departments. Customer service confirmed last week that my address was still wrong but got that corrected (checked today)<br /><br />3. <a href="mailto:tmonline@tm.com.my">tmonline@tm.com.my</a> & <a href="mailto:streamyx@tm.net.my">streamyx@tm.net.my</a> is a blackhole and i can’t recall having an email immediately answered or a ticket number issued.<br /><br />4. In January 2010, I was happy to get a call and made the payment via phone. The finance lady declared that I will get my receipt ( important as i need to claim) and my Nov-Dec bill. It never came (refer 2).<br /><br />5. Other happy encounters<br /><br />a. One fine day, decided to work at home and got the call on house landline to ask about the debt. I wonder if the finance department was calling my landline everyday instead of my hp?<br />i. My hp number is xxxxxxxxx, which i shared in my application form and every time i was connected to a customer service person.<br /><br />b. Only 2 ways to obtain my copy of bill , via Fax or TMonline<br />i. Fax – Requested 3 times and it never came. Refer (4), was working at home and the phone kept ringing with fax tone at the other end. I think the fax was directed at my house landline instead.<br /><br />ii. TMonline – the registration requires the latest bill date and amount. I have to call back and get the data yet still unable to process. Send screenshot to (3)<br /><br />iii. Snail mail – it will take another 2 weeks for the mail to come. It never came (refer 2)<br /><br />iv. Email – repeatedly told that this is not an option. One finance lady was kind enough and agreed to send. It never came.<br /><br />At this rate, my internet connection will be disabled come 16th June 2010 and I do need that for business purposes.<br /><br />Today: I finally got the customer helpline after waiting for 10 minutes but the lady (very helpful) was not able to facilitate payment via phone. The phone collection folks will call me within the next 24 hours, i was assured.<br /><br />My impression so far are either delusional or comical and wonder if TM’s profit margin is extremely good that a small debtor like me are allowed to do the chasing.<br /><br />I do hope that this feedback will be helpful to your organisation to move forward.amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-9299904570035744172010-05-28T22:10:00.007+08:002010-06-01T10:16:08.819+08:00Methodist becoming Pro Barisan National?<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Updated:<br /></strong></span><div>1. It is now clear that it is 4 churches, not 3. And they claimed that they have requested the money 'weeks before', contrary to what the bishop had claimed. </div><br /><div>2. Rev Hwa Yung will ironically be talking about his new book on corruption and bribery. It is like listening to HRH Sultan Azlan talking about his rule of law book after what he did for UMNO in Perak. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477622600818992178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/TARsu9d3pDI/AAAAAAAACTE/jY8dDNO7_uA/s400/Invitation+Bribery.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Original </strong></span><br /><div>Once upon a time as a greenhorn, I joined and later serve in a Methodist church in Seremban and enjoyed the warmth of the people.<br />I have a secret, that I have sponsored a Tamil Methodist teenager with 2 month of my salary (just came out to work) so that he can study as his family could not afford it. It is a secret that I just want to kept to myself because it should be that way. Yet with this revelation, I hope that this 'act of kindness' will buy me 5 minutes of grace to fester about my biggest disappointment of the year.<br /><br />Its about the Chinese Methodist Church in Sibu who were given RM1.75 million 'donation' of taxpayers money coincidently during a by election.<br /><br />I called it a bribe.<br /><br />Chronology:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">17th May 2010</span> - trying to make sense.<br />Context: Election, money given to the Chinese and Christian as both are target group which are basically profiles the Methodist Sibu. No money was given all these years. This is special budget allocation.<br />Reason: not clear.<br />Consequence: May help in financial situation, distrust from the ... poorer Melanau/Iban Christians and other faith, allegations of buying over christians, unfavourable rumblings in Peninsular, increase derision of faith & causes the Christian leaders to spend time to make sense.<br /><br />Principles to consider<br />1. Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse. ( Proverbs 28.6)<br />2."Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. (1 Corithians 10.23)<br />3.It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. (Romans 14:21)So, we need to weight carefully. Any threat is an opportunity and this is one opportunity that church can make a stand on integrity even on donation or grant.<br /><br />I then wrote emails to the Chinese Sibu Church via their FB page, and emails to the methodist organisation and to DUMC. No response for the church. The church did not make any effort to be transparent about the situation for about a week.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">24th May 2010</span> - I prayed for forgiveness for the churches in Malaysia. Today, received a forwarded email from concern christians with an email which I found inadequate yet will respect the bishop's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/notes/joseph-koh/per-government-grants-to-methodist-churches-on-the-eve-of-the-sibu-by-election-1/10150190945470580">direction</a>.<br /><br />"After all, the money given is actually taxpayers’ money. Indeed the problem in our country is that most of the money for religious bodies is usually given to one particular religious community, with relatively much smaller proportions given to other communities. In so far as the money was given to the churches this time round, it can be said that the government is trying to right a past wrong. Further, the churches concerned never asked for the money."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">26th May 2010</span> - The 4 churches ( not 3 ) declared that they are keeping the <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/132803">monies</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">28th May 2010</span> - The Methodist church in Malaysia explained that the<a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/133011"> reason</a> for keeping the money is that "returning the RM1.75 million government grant given during the Sibu by-election campaign will inadvertently make them out to be opposition supporters."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">This is a day of mourning for the churches in Malaysia.</span> Not only we have lost the opportunity to be a change agent and a reflector of Christ's value, we have lost the trust to be a credible faith.<br /><br />Here are the given rationale and I do wonder why there was no bible verses that the Methodist leaders can use to substanciate their feeble attempt.<br /><br />1. It is our money anyway -> <span style="color:#000066;">Did the rest of the other faith who pay tax agrees to this? (refer 5)</span><br /><br />2. We did not ask for it - > <span style="color:#330099;">So, it is Barisan National's fault then? There are also report that the churches did ask for it. Who is lying?</span><br /><br />3. Only election is when you will get these goodies. -> <span style="color:#330099;">Isn't that the same with people who get paid RM50 to vote? And the church is an organisation and have collective conscience.</span><br /><br />4. If we reject, we will be linked to opposition. And we are impartial and the money have no influence.-> <span style="color:#000066;">Logic - if you reject = opposition, then accept = support Barisan National and UMNO. That already, is not impartial.</span><br /><br />5. We do not get money from government always -><span style="color:#333399;"> Lets not confuse the issue here. If talking about grant to non Muslim community, lets work it out with other faith and make a proposal to the government. 2 wrongs does not make a right.</span><br /><br />Dear Reverand Hwa Yong and the Methodist ministers in Malaysia, remember that Judas was given 20 coins of silver to betray Jesus. You are not Judas, yet you have kept quiet about the money perhaps thinking that it will go away. We also do not see the Methodist's dynamism in the Allah issue or other issues confronting poorer churches in Malaysia. Is this not enough to imply that the Methodist movement in Malaysia is now friendly towards the Barisan National government?<br /><br />The fact that the Sidang Injil Borneo churches are much poorer yet they were not given aid. The SIB church leaders <a href="http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/mobile/malaysia/article/sibu-result-reflects-growing-christian-vote/">spoke up</a> & its a <a href="http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/mobile/malaysia/article/sib-grows-the-fastest/">growing church</a> that is not favourable to the desire of the government. And the Catholic church is also not given money as they displayed great courage to defend the rights of the Christians in the Herald case. And I think if they were given this bribe, both church leaders will refuse.<br /><br />It is a shame to the Chinese church for our obsession with wealth, better looking churches and more land. Go ahead and enjoy yourselves planning bigger barns to keep your harvest.<br /><br />End with a quote from another Methodist.<br />"Let them keep the money. Jesus came without a penny and He hung on the cross without a penny. But look what He did for all eternity. "</div>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-50507417547163055732010-04-14T17:59:00.003+08:002010-04-14T18:01:46.815+08:00Gestapo home ministrySo, I am pissed.<br /><br />Dr Pornthip says that she will come even without guarantee of her being safe in Southern Thailand in doing her work. Now, Hishammuddin changes his mind and demand to know more information about her threats before giving security assurance. Tak ikhlas betul.<br /><br />This is how we treat profesionals who happen to be in disagreement with what the official version of things are. No wonder RPK runs away before getting seriously hurt or even killed. Are we becoming like gestapo?amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-10929388692958286742010-03-18T19:53:00.000+08:002010-03-18T19:53:25.742+08:00The Broken Shield: SHATTERED HOPES AND BROKEN DREAMS<a href="http://thebrokenshield.blogspot.com/2010/03/shattered-hopes-and-broken-dreams.html">The Broken Shield: SHATTERED HOPES AND BROKEN DREAMS</a><br /><br />Support the bravery of the natives to find back their right for self determination.amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-22663261168372796232010-02-19T23:41:00.040+08:002010-02-22T23:55:46.833+08:00Joseph's Journey to Midlife CrisisI started blogging 6 years ago at a crucial juncture of my life. 2005 was the year that I started fulfiling my dream of a master's degree, got my apartment and charted my own career. So, here is a lookback to the last 6 years in TLA (Three Letter Acronyms)<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;">Five Year Itch</span></strong><br />"Best of luck in the future and thanks for your contribution"<br />John Coyne<span style="color:#999999;"> ( Current CEO of Western Digital Corp )</span><br /><br />"Joseph,<br />It has been wonderful working with somebody as dedicated and intelligence as you. I'm sure you will do well in your new company and your other future endeavors, just make sure you be "good". Temptations are aplenty in your new company....<br />We suppose to have some <strong>farewell for you during our HR meeting today. Unfortunately, the meeting was cancelled due to the evacuation dril</strong>l and many are either away on work or leave. Sorry about that...I will see you before you leave today. take care." Fauzi <span style="color:#666666;">( HR Director )</span><br /><span style="color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>You, Beauty Line?</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439985795040405634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S362QiCN6II/AAAAAAAACO8/8hWw99CzBEI/s400/loreal1.jpg" border="0" />2006<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;">Fruitful Celebrity Hunts</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S369r4l4I2I/AAAAAAAACQk/oFOihrBPeD4/s1600-h/fasha.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439993961533416290" style="WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 145px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S369r4l4I2I/AAAAAAAACQk/oFOihrBPeD4/s200/fasha.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S369sZhKQxI/AAAAAAAACQs/lBzFGIN9Xxs/s1600-h/maya_karin_andme.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439993970372002578" style="WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S369sZhKQxI/AAAAAAAACQs/lBzFGIN9Xxs/s200/maya_karin_andme.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S369rawtEbI/AAAAAAAACQc/N0fbkMFkQ_Q/s1600-h/beauty1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439993953525764530" style="WIDTH: 183px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S369rawtEbI/AAAAAAAACQc/N0fbkMFkQ_Q/s200/beauty1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong></strong></span><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Biennial Family Holidays</strong></span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S4KfZkHTYYI/AAAAAAAACS0/EQxVqxqsBrM/s1600-h/family.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441086561356833154" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S4KfZkHTYYI/AAAAAAAACS0/EQxVqxqsBrM/s320/family.bmp" border="0" /></p></a><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S4KfZkHTYYI/AAAAAAAACS0/EQxVqxqsBrM/s1600-h/family.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439990449134518482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S366fb4uQNI/AAAAAAAACQE/OiD2CaM6RcI/s400/Joeobscene-nya.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Questionable Cuisines</strong></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439990442803555970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S366fETTboI/AAAAAAAACP8/0QWbezOsdA4/s400/joebalut.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Travel Bug</strong></span><br /><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/c9SDWQqf8WE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c9SDWQqf8WE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><p align="left"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;">Au Revoir, friends</span></strong></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439995092227145170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 396px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S36-tswRPdI/AAAAAAAACQ8/CNVRQWycI98/s320/bye.png" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439995080402696754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S36-tAtGejI/AAAAAAAACQ0/mLXPSJ2ou_A/s320/bye2.jpg" border="0" /><br />2007<br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Work by Beach</strong></span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37DB625BTI/AAAAAAAACRM/bvqo9oiKaSU/s1600-h/PDhome.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439999837656909106" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37DB625BTI/AAAAAAAACRM/bvqo9oiKaSU/s320/PDhome.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37DBWvS47I/AAAAAAAACRE/aNR4vzXoZQo/s1600-h/PD-guys.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439999827961373618" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37DBWvS47I/AAAAAAAACRE/aNR4vzXoZQo/s320/PD-guys.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Time for Youth<br /></strong></span><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37DcSkstiI/AAAAAAAACRk/FkkO_MnVQ80/s1600-h/KIDS.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440000290699654690" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37DcSkstiI/AAAAAAAACRk/FkkO_MnVQ80/s320/KIDS.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Digital Photography Frenzy</strong></span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37DbwYMgQI/AAAAAAAACRc/t5qKb9Fg-Rc/s1600-h/Chiang_Mai_%26_Chiang_Rai_038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440000281520406786" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37DbwYMgQI/AAAAAAAACRc/t5qKb9Fg-Rc/s320/Chiang_Mai_%26_Chiang_Rai_038.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S4KfZj60LMI/AAAAAAAACS8/GD_OCSoU95Y/s1600-h/tokyo.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441086561304456386" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 321px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S4KfZj60LMI/AAAAAAAACS8/GD_OCSoU95Y/s320/tokyo.bmp" border="0" /></a></p><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;">Old Man=Wine?</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37JlFeK2oI/AAAAAAAACSE/Ull3gkvrEgs/s1600-h/bestdressed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440007038871198338" style="WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37JlFeK2oI/AAAAAAAACSE/Ull3gkvrEgs/s320/bestdressed.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Teaching Aboringines</strong></span><br /><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_0XyMR442Yw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_0XyMR442Yw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></p>2008<br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Rural Sarawak Works</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37FqR8xZUI/AAAAAAAACRs/ApSiyTbk4Tk/s1600-h/kayan.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440002730073613634" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37FqR8xZUI/AAAAAAAACRs/ApSiyTbk4Tk/s320/kayan.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Serving National Service<br /></strong></span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37FrX__ekI/AAAAAAAACR0/CMlgi4qAR68/s1600-h/NS.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440002748877601346" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37FrX__ekI/AAAAAAAACR0/CMlgi4qAR68/s320/NS.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Civil Society Activism<br /></strong></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37FrjaXN3I/AAAAAAAACR8/qZVGp2SeSuY/s1600-h/orang_asal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440002751940999026" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37FrjaXN3I/AAAAAAAACR8/qZVGp2SeSuY/s320/orang_asal.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Finally, graduated again</strong></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S4KfZGqM-xI/AAAAAAAACSs/TshuEaAd9zE/s1600-h/graduate.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441086553450150674" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S4KfZGqM-xI/AAAAAAAACSs/TshuEaAd9zE/s320/graduate.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>2009<br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Flood Relief</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37Jm4yC-QI/AAAAAAAACSk/k4k9t8xH0zE/s1600-h/flood+relief.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440007069824645378" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37Jm4yC-QI/AAAAAAAACSk/k4k9t8xH0zE/s320/flood+relief.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Near Death Experience</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37JlpXy3UI/AAAAAAAACSM/cqA5UnVsvPo/s1600-h/drown.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440007048508136770" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37JlpXy3UI/AAAAAAAACSM/cqA5UnVsvPo/s320/drown.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>London Outpost Experience</strong></span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37Jl7oa3xI/AAAAAAAACSU/rUlcYzhPbdI/s1600-h/london.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440007053409705746" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37Jl7oa3xI/AAAAAAAACSU/rUlcYzhPbdI/s320/london.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37JmdQCqaI/AAAAAAAACSc/GUX9rzs7QzY/s1600-h/Tower_Bridge_London.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440007062434261410" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S37JmdQCqaI/AAAAAAAACSc/GUX9rzs7QzY/s320/Tower_Bridge_London.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-20600566762786179702010-01-27T20:27:00.003+08:002010-01-27T20:48:50.821+08:00Anybody out there?It was an eventful 2009 in terms of job; where I felt that for the first time in many years, it was a fruitless pursuit. Imagine having all the fun working in London yet longing to be something more. And having a good life there just make the sense stronger.<br /><br />I wanted to quit and do something else.<br /><br />As it turns out, I moved to a new job and things seemed to have a turn for the better. Was volunteered to facilitate a high level meeting in Miri and took the opportunity to extend my weekend by visiting middle Baram again.<br /><br />In summary, the <a href="http://amoker.blogspot.com/2009/02/worst-flood-in-baram-sarawak-since-1963.html">villagers are still suffering </a>with little help from anybody else but their faith /themselves ... I hope. It was a fruitful discussion, yet i know that the stake are high and am not sure how to move forward.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Basically, giving fish is easier than teaching people how to fish.. esp. when one is not a fisherman.</span> I was able to engage some Oxford chap about developing localized technology that uses river power. Have also got some link from loving Christians whose South African root is in agriculture and technology. And recently, was linked to a landlady who implements micro credit and knows another person from Indonesia who concorted a super fertilizer formula. But none of this is concrete ... till just now.<br /><br />In short, there is donation available to help this village (Long Ikang) in Middle Baram. They suffer 2-3 times of flooding per year and is now affected by drought. Any rice produce is for self sustenance.<br /><br />Here is the strategy:-<br />1. Rework on the irrigation channel by building 2 ponds and irrigation ways.<br />2. This includes a supply of water pump to draw out water during flood and to draw water in during drought. The pump will be shared with another village nearby.<br />3. Explore the feasibility of pig farming with the eye on diversification of income. Planting of food vegetation and usage of pig manure as fertilizer to complete the chain. Possibily under micro credit scheme for motivation.<br />4. Work out the distribution channel to ensure that products can be shipped to the 2 nearby towns.<br /><br />So, all we need now is a person whom can help to monitor and ensure that the project can be carried out. This person can be a volunteer or even have his time paid in allowance in ensuring that the project are developed and tracked. We need a local, a Sarawakian man ( for safety reason) who can devote time in visiting and tracking the progress. And till now, we can't find that person yet. So, if you have any desire or knows someone who is willing to do a short term help, please drop us a note.<br /><br />Even as we speak, this village was flooded last week by the water from the mountains compounded by the lack of vegetation cover.amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-60457056300996577082010-01-20T17:07:00.003+08:002010-01-20T17:28:11.197+08:00Back to bLogs - 2010<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S1bMBghV3vI/AAAAAAAACO0/Hi2r4K84HGs/s1600-h/DSC_0297.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428750727123427058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S1bMBghV3vI/AAAAAAAACO0/Hi2r4K84HGs/s400/DSC_0297.JPG" border="0" /></a> 3 cute dogs in Omotesando<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S1bMBAGXT3I/AAAAAAAACOs/gqpO1L-bdYU/s1600-h/DSC_0191.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428750718420340594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S1bMBAGXT3I/AAAAAAAACOs/gqpO1L-bdYU/s400/DSC_0191.JPG" border="0" /></a> Celebrating 2010 new year in Himeji temple, Harajuku<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S1bMAjJvrZI/AAAAAAAACOk/LAo4p84cgL0/s1600-h/DSC_0141.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428750710649892242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S1bMAjJvrZI/AAAAAAAACOk/LAo4p84cgL0/s400/DSC_0141.JPG" border="0" /></a> Imperial Palace in Tokyo<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S1bMAfPgIvI/AAAAAAAACOc/HIh2C_ef9wE/s1600-h/IMG_1638.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428750709600297714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S1bMAfPgIvI/AAAAAAAACOc/HIh2C_ef9wE/s400/IMG_1638.JPG" border="0" /></a> Freezing in Iceland<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S1bL_02rHVI/AAAAAAAACOU/xcTAW5wAKl4/s1600-h/IMG_1246.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428750698221870418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/S1bL_02rHVI/AAAAAAAACOU/xcTAW5wAKl4/s400/IMG_1246.JPG" border="0" /></a> Snow and hails .... !!!<br /><br /><br /><div>I have practically disappeared over the blog horizon.</div><br /><div>Since the Misinformed Minister Rais Yatim said that social networks are bad for Malaysian culture, decide that I should be back to the blogsphere again. </div><br /><br /><div>So, what is there to talk about?</div><br /><div>Country - 11 churches, 1 gudhwara and 1 mosque attacked. Debates are emotional and irrational. Some reports are saying that our international standing has fallen and even some dared to suggest economic sanction from the big brother.</div><br /><div>Life- am now an uncle!! Ok, i am already called an uncle before that but this is a real biological uncle status.</div><br /><div>Still need to get married and seemed to be rather impossible</div><br /><div>Started my new job in the same company and going thru the process of knowing people, business and the lingering feeling of incompetence.</div><br /><div>Still like my church and the many activities there and beyond. I reckon that one day, I (and others ) will be caught and imprisoned for doing something that we were doing last time due to laws that were created arbitarily. May Allah's grace be upon us.</div><br /><div>Let me share some photos that was taken from last months or so...</div></div></div></div><br /></div>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-53824935124640957412009-10-20T10:56:00.004+08:002009-10-20T11:14:03.903+08:00Racist official newsletter from the top Malaysian University<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/St0ohi1rGbI/AAAAAAAACNo/cO2jHNIt3g0/s1600-h/um1.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394512485412444594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/St0ohi1rGbI/AAAAAAAACNo/cO2jHNIt3g0/s400/um1.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/St0nKmcPjsI/AAAAAAAACNg/NeEZBRzERho/s1600-h/UM.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394510991730904770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/St0nKmcPjsI/AAAAAAAACNg/NeEZBRzERho/s400/UM.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Translation from Malay Language to English</strong></span><br /><div>Therefore, I as the Head of Graduates of University of Malaya would like to advice all our fellow graduates of University of Malaya to combine forces and prepare ourselves together with all the necessary knowledge and preparation before we continue our fight in the actual battle field. This advice implies mainly to our Malay Graduates. </div><br /><div>We must treasure the sacrifices made by our ancestors which tried so hard to ensure that Tanah Melayu ( Malay Land ) is free from the intrusion of alien races. <strong>We must not fall into the category of those who forgets their roots until they will be taken over by other races.</strong> Graduates must prove themselves that we are capable and the best choice to take over the throne of governing the country in the future. This implies with the theme of MPMUM Progressive, Dynamic, Professional. There is nothing more important that can compared to our always-sensitive and improving Graduates. I also would like to advice all <strong>Malay Graduates to prepare ourselves to face all eventualities in near future, seeing that most of the issues are raised by the non-Malay races.</strong> Don't let ourselves to slack and allow our 'enemies under the blankets to attack us' (direct translation from the Malay idiom). <strong>Don't allow 'our'(Malay) Malaysia to fall into the hands of those who are who are not entitled to it</strong>.</div><br />I hope this is not a call for people to 'prepare' to physically fight those nasty 'other' race. It is always the other races that is weaker, more terrible, evil , lousy than your race. </div><div></div><div>I wonder why this gentlemen thinks that he is greater than others, since he is the 'head' of the political system in University Malaya. Maybe he feels that he has reached the pinnacle of power. I hope he does not forget that the 'real' world nowadays are borderless and what he does in the power tower will be documented and available for his potential employers. For those in Malaysia, you would note that his name (and his father) sounded Indonesian. If we can accept Indonesia and morphed them as Malays, I hope he can accept others as well.</div><div></div><div>With UM raising back to the top 200 universities of the world ( 180 ranked) , I wonder if the committee would be interested to know if the university is able to create real quality graduates. Really shameful.<br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-10431088651230627912009-08-28T00:16:00.005+08:002009-08-28T16:42:17.799+08:00A time for everything<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spa1qYvClyI/AAAAAAAACNI/oINbJ6FBXj4/s1600-h/P1030202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374682945112151842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spa1qYvClyI/AAAAAAAACNI/oINbJ6FBXj4/s400/P1030202.JPG" border="0" /></a> St Pauls .. and it was really hot...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374682925669085874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spa1pQTc8rI/AAAAAAAACM4/xGqPqLZjPnI/s400/P1030259.JPG" border="0" />Jessica's farewall , the one that is blocked. haha<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spa1p6iHNbI/AAAAAAAACNA/zInAhzVlsoo/s1600-h/P1030270.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374682937004864946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spa1p6iHNbI/AAAAAAAACNA/zInAhzVlsoo/s400/P1030270.JPG" border="0" /></a> Emirates for the Arsenal vs Celtic game<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpayunCL87I/AAAAAAAACMw/TFp8l9hTEY0/s1600-h/P1030277.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374679719135146930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpayunCL87I/AAAAAAAACMw/TFp8l9hTEY0/s400/P1030277.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpayuDAfQVI/AAAAAAAACMo/V3N0uR88_68/s1600-h/P1030258.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374679709464346962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpayuDAfQVI/AAAAAAAACMo/V3N0uR88_68/s400/P1030258.JPG" border="0" /></a> I wonder how they can have a show day after day for more that 50 years...<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpayttPcibI/AAAAAAAACMg/whmfpyKcpaU/s1600-h/P1030256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374679703621503410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpayttPcibI/AAAAAAAACMg/whmfpyKcpaU/s400/P1030256.JPG" border="0" /></a> Wah , like a star trader. At the Canary wharf, where financial people earn more that you and me combined. (or worth)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374682955857808898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spa1rAxATgI/AAAAAAAACNY/GMxK4bR-Pn4/s400/P1030234.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpaytNIo93I/AAAAAAAACMY/hNCZblFQs9w/s1600-h/P1030246.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374679695003023218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpaytNIo93I/AAAAAAAACMY/hNCZblFQs9w/s400/P1030246.JPG" border="0" /></a> At the line in Meridien. Imagine a missing halo<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spays6GIjeI/AAAAAAAACMQ/1iQY86Ztr-o/s1600-h/P1030230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374679689892236770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spays6GIjeI/AAAAAAAACMQ/1iQY86Ztr-o/s400/P1030230.JPG" border="0" /></a> Clocking in Meridien </div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-70231026467361013342009-08-27T23:36:00.003+08:002009-08-28T00:11:38.612+08:00Cornvulating Cornwall<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SparHI-D0xI/AAAAAAAACMI/N2Y0klBpOTI/s1600-h/P1030135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374671344468480786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SparHI-D0xI/AAAAAAAACMI/N2Y0klBpOTI/s400/P1030135.JPG" border="0" /></a> Actually, the Atlantic water is rather warm.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SparGuUCJpI/AAAAAAAACMA/MMuGdbrsTCk/s1600-h/P1030171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374671337312888466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SparGuUCJpI/AAAAAAAACMA/MMuGdbrsTCk/s400/P1030171.JPG" border="0" /></a> At St Michael's mount. You can walk over when the tide is low<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SparGJtBA6I/AAAAAAAACL4/JmchOBCUV1E/s1600-h/P1030136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374671327485559714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SparGJtBA6I/AAAAAAAACL4/JmchOBCUV1E/s400/P1030136.JPG" border="0" /></a> At Mousee town ... they had a fair the night before<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SparFzqajHI/AAAAAAAACLw/o9efyLPXXKs/s1600-h/P1030128.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374671321569070194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SparFzqajHI/AAAAAAAACLw/o9efyLPXXKs/s400/P1030128.JPG" border="0" /></a> Wonderful view from Manick Theatre..<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SparFWwOw-I/AAAAAAAACLo/0mx-jfPTfQM/s1600-h/P1030127.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374671313808835554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SparFWwOw-I/AAAAAAAACLo/0mx-jfPTfQM/s400/P1030127.JPG" border="0" /></a> To eat breakfast.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpapcHvyOyI/AAAAAAAACLg/v02ypSXftic/s1600-h/P1030120.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374669505894169378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpapcHvyOyI/AAAAAAAACLg/v02ypSXftic/s400/P1030120.JPG" border="0" /></a> And stomp on some poor villagers.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpapbsSH-iI/AAAAAAAACLY/txNcsutbC7o/s1600-h/P1030075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374669498522008098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpapbsSH-iI/AAAAAAAACLY/txNcsutbC7o/s400/P1030075.JPG" border="0" /></a> And to spy at them at the break of dawn<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpapbNKjAYI/AAAAAAAACLQ/piEhQ5lwri8/s1600-h/P1030060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374669490168725890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpapbNKjAYI/AAAAAAAACLQ/piEhQ5lwri8/s400/P1030060.JPG" border="0" /></a> Driving all night to Cornwall in this Nissan. Would not buy this car<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpapaiUXChI/AAAAAAAACLI/eC60tBMtwp8/s1600-h/P1030116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374669478667160082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpapaiUXChI/AAAAAAAACLI/eC60tBMtwp8/s400/P1030116.JPG" border="0" /></a> To the end of the land<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpapaSmfWZI/AAAAAAAACLA/uLeNDKcC_kg/s1600-h/P1030111.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374669474448234898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpapaSmfWZI/AAAAAAAACLA/uLeNDKcC_kg/s400/P1030111.JPG" border="0" /></a> To be honest, i peed at land's end. It was very early, and the hotel is not open and i had to go...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-4919711382804214382009-08-27T23:26:00.002+08:002009-08-27T23:35:53.826+08:00Daring , darlings ...<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spam29n0sKI/AAAAAAAACK4/3GI6LuKjoT0/s1600-h/P1030177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374666668498006178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spam29n0sKI/AAAAAAAACK4/3GI6LuKjoT0/s400/P1030177.JPG" border="0" /></a> Well, darlings.. we start with cream tea.. basically scones, tea and clotted creams.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpamPAQnrPI/AAAAAAAACKo/Nr_yGQ2Or2Q/s1600-h/P1030059.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374665982011223282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpamPAQnrPI/AAAAAAAACKo/Nr_yGQ2Or2Q/s400/P1030059.JPG" border="0" /></a> And try on some skinny jeans, those that make your lower body gasping for air. Got this jeans for 7 pounds. haha<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpamOv5NgxI/AAAAAAAACKg/Xb48dc64TF4/s1600-h/P1030058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374665977618072338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpamOv5NgxI/AAAAAAAACKg/Xb48dc64TF4/s400/P1030058.JPG" border="0" /></a>Boon Yaw dared me to eat raw beef... <br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpamOTT2-uI/AAAAAAAACKY/Y6LlhMA1QKc/s1600-h/P1030055.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374665969945213666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpamOTT2-uI/AAAAAAAACKY/Y6LlhMA1QKc/s400/P1030055.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a title="Steak tartare" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steak_tartare">Steak tartare</a> is a <a title="French cuisine" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_cuisine">French</a> dish made from finely chopped or ground raw meat (often beef). It is often served with onions, capers, seasonings like fresh ground pepper and Worcestershire sauce, and sometimes raw egg<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpamNzfT5II/AAAAAAAACKQ/ALjYqQldW1g/s1600-h/P1030054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374665961403311234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpamNzfT5II/AAAAAAAACKQ/ALjYqQldW1g/s400/P1030054.JPG" border="0" /></a> And of course, the snails.<br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-4377800511600824552009-08-27T23:04:00.002+08:002009-08-27T23:25:43.168+08:00Of Henley and O2 Arena<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spakdiyoz2I/AAAAAAAACKI/n4EcV1vMHHE/s1600-h/P1030047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374664032775622498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spakdiyoz2I/AAAAAAAACKI/n4EcV1vMHHE/s400/P1030047.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpakdXRrbAI/AAAAAAAACKA/M2mvfksXtoA/s1600-h/P1030046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374664029684591618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpakdXRrbAI/AAAAAAAACKA/M2mvfksXtoA/s400/P1030046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spakc3n15tI/AAAAAAAACJ4/iAAu7KPZUkE/s1600-h/P1030041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374664021187618514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spakc3n15tI/AAAAAAAACJ4/iAAu7KPZUkE/s400/P1030041.JPG" border="0" /></a> With Olivia and Cindy when we visited O2 and Bodyworks, the one where they used real human bodies as exhibit.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpakcbGrTdI/AAAAAAAACJw/822qI98zZIo/s1600-h/P1030033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374664013532319186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SpakcbGrTdI/AAAAAAAACJw/822qI98zZIo/s400/P1030033.JPG" border="0" /></a> Yes, we were celebrating Kemerdekaan in this place where Azalina Othman spend RMxmillions to try to turn it to a high performance centre rubbish.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spakb9D1zII/AAAAAAAACJo/eqe4a0Mw7dw/s1600-h/P1030024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374664005467360386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/Spakb9D1zII/AAAAAAAACJo/eqe4a0Mw7dw/s400/P1030024.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-26591149620213194022009-08-18T00:09:00.000+08:002009-08-18T00:11:19.569+08:00Financial aid for poor students in MalaysiaRationale for my scholarships offer<br /><br />Since I circulated my scholarship offer to needy students, many people have asked if the offer is genuine or a hoax because there are so many scams. I have had to explain that I am in a position to undertake this charitable work.<br /><br />I am a retired Chartered Civil Engineer and was one of the original founders of IJM Corporation Bhd, Gamuda Bhd and Mudajaya Group Bhd, 3 of the leading listed construction companies. As an entrepreneur, I have always wanted to use minimum capital to produce maximum benefit.<br />I wish to explain why I have chosen this way of doing charity through this particular scholarship offer in which the scholarship recipients are not required to work for me after graduation or to pay me back the money they have been provided.<br /><br />But they all have to promise me that they will help other poor students after they have graduated and are financially solvent.<br />I believe most recipients will not break their promise if the charity culture has been instilled in them when they are young and in need of aid. As a result, I expect that they will continue to do similar charity work long after I am gone.<br /><br />Through my contribution, we can expect a meaningful human resource product graduating from a very creditable University, U TAR for a relatively small outlay and contributing to the nation’s development.<br /><br />Some have asked if I would consider them studying in other more expansive university. In fact, one girl has applied while she is currently doing the foundation course in accountancy in Nilai University College which charges Rm 138,000 for the 4 years course, according to her. U TAR, a non profit University charges Rm 32,000 for the same 4 years course. Of course, the question is: which is the better University for finance and accountancy. All I know is that most practising accountants in Malaysia are graduates from Kolej TAR or U TAR.<br /><br />I believe an accountant can find employment more easily and is likely to have a higher income than those from many other professions. An accountant graduate will be able to help the people around him, besides taking care of his own family through his higher educational and financial standing.<br /><br />I also hope that this example will encourage other successful entrepreneurs who may have wanted to do similar charitable work to use their money in a cost-effective way and to help others and generate a positive multiplier effect on society.<br /><br />For those who have not read my scholarships offer, I reproduce it here below.<br /><br />Scholarships for poor young Malaysians<br />I will be providing scholarships to 50 poor students for the next academic year to study finance and accountancy in University TAR, Kampar, Perak.<br />The scholarships will be given subject to the following conditions:-<br />The applicant’s family combined income should not be more than Rm 2,000 per month.<br />The letter of application should be accompanied by a simple letter from the Form Teacher of the student certifying that the student is from a poor family. The contact details of the teacher and school should also be included.<br />Students will be selected more on the basis of their financial need though their academic achievements will also be taken into account.<br /><br />Each scholarship is worth Rm 20,000 which should be enough for each student to cover the cost for the first year foundation course and the first semester of the degree course in finance and accountancy until he or she secures the PTPTN loan. This Government PTPTN loan (National Higher Education Fund) is given to all students doing a recognised degree course, irrespective of race and financial position.<br />Students who receive financial aid from me are not required to pay back the money or work for me after they graduate.<br />However, I want them to promise me that they will help other poor students when they have graduated and are financially solvent.<br /><br />U TAR takes in students in January and June every year. Students who are currently doing their SPM can submit their applications to U TAR this October with their forecast results and they can enrol in January 2010.<br /><br />Needy students who are currently doing their SPM or have passed the SPM can submit their applications directly to me at:<br />Koon Yew Yin,<br /><a href="mailto:%20%3cscript%20language=" target="_blank" 20="%20'ma'%20+%20'il'%20+%20'to';%20var%20path%20=%20'hr'%20+%20'ef'%20+%20'=';%20var%20addy4394%20=%20'yewyin'%20+%20'@';%20addy4394%20=%20addy4394%20+%20'gma"" 20type="text/javascript"><br />' );<br />//-->\n<br /></a><a href="mailto:yewyin@gmail.com">yewyin@gmail.com</a><br />' );<br />//--><br /><br />This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it<br />' );<br />//--><br /><br /><br />A copy of the letter should be sent to<br /><a href="mailto:%20%3cscript%20language=" target="_blank" 20="%20'ma'%20+%20'il'%20+%20'to';%20var%20path%20=%20'hr'%20+%20'ef'%20+%20'=';%20var%20addy39113%20=%20'admin'%20+%20'@';%20addy39113%20=%20addy39113%20+%20'c"" 20type="text/javascript"><br />' );<br />//-->\n<br /></a><a href="mailto:admin@cpiasia.net">admin@cpiasia.net</a><br />' );<br />//--><br /><br />This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it<br />' );<br />//--><br /><br /><br />attention: Dr. Lim Teck Ghee<br />Centre for Policy Initiatives<br />All applications should be written out in English<br /><br />Koon Yew Yin2nd Aug 09amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-50766494750862549782009-08-17T21:05:00.001+08:002009-08-17T21:06:22.554+08:00Iban farmer arrested for defending his NCR land<p>Iban farmer arrested for defending his NCR land</p><p>Source: <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="http://www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com</a></p><p>Matek Anak Geram, an Iban farmer, a member of TAHABAS (Sarawak Native Customary Rights Network) and Committee Member of Jaringan Orang Asli SeMalaysia (JOAS) was arrested by the police on 13 August 2009 for the crime of allegedly restraining the workers of an oil palm plantation.</p><p>Unarmed, he was taken into custody by 10- fully-armed police personnel at 8.45 am and detained for two hours at the Mukah Police Station and charged for allegedly wrongfully restraining the workers of an oil palm plantation company, </p><p>Saradu Plantations Sdn. Bhd. under section 341 of the Penal Code before being released on bail.For over a year, Matek and his immediate family have been guarding their property against Saradu Plantations who have been encroaching on their native lands.In individual shifts, they have blocked an access road built on their land.JOAS questions the heavy use of force and intimidation against one unarmed man and calls for neutrality of the state infrastructure in this legal dispute between the private company and indigenous peoples.Saradu Plantation Sdn. Bhd. is a Sarawak oil palm company, which has been given 15,000 hectares of land by the state government to develop oil palm in Balingian.</p><p>Saradu is also linked to the <strong>Sarawak Chief Minister as his brother-in law, Robert Geneid and sister, Raziah Mahmud are majority shareholders of the company</strong>.</p><p>JAOS said: “Matek Geram’s case is just one of hundreds of land encroachment and conflict cases between indigenous peoples and oil palm plantation companies in Sarawak.“In light of this, JOAS reiterates its support for the recent call from TAHABAS and other indigenous peoples organisations for a moratorium on plantation development projects.</p><p><br />“JOAS reiterates its position that the State Government-issued provisional leases are encroaching illegally into our constitutionally-recognised customary lands and forests.“Until the government moves towards a meaningful solution with the full and effective participation and consent of indigenous peoples, incidences like Matek Geram will continue to take place throughout the state, to the detriment of the rights of indigenous Sarawakians, the sustainable development of the Sarawakian population and the image of the state of Sarawak and Malaysia,” it said</p>amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-60474478340652317542009-08-05T00:24:00.002+08:002009-08-05T00:31:04.736+08:00El Nino drying up Sarawak ?<strong>El Nino drying up Sarawak</strong><br />MIRI: With the supply of fresh water dwindling to critical levels in interior Sarawak, schoolchildren have resorted to washing dishes and bathing in dirty ponds and polluted streams.<br />The drought is worsening in many northern and central districts<br /><br /><a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/4/nation/4446889&sec=nation">http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/4/nation/4446889&sec=nation</a><br /><br />Or is it logging?<br /><br />Sarawak government is now confronting haze ( logging - cheap way of clearing the land) , lack of water ( logging) and Penan villages of 300 that is starving ( logging - no more animals and edible plants )<br /><br />My heart goes out to the Sarawakians but am tired that they are not helping themselves. Have been to that area and it is just a shame that they keep voting a government that sells them off cheaply.amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006188.post-80858358103376679442009-07-19T07:53:00.003+08:002009-07-19T08:10:47.412+08:00Justice for Beng Hock<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SmJgtBbW3GI/AAAAAAAACJE/b0fVNZHgYVs/s1600-h/Justice+for+Beng+Hock+30x20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_upcb6aogR40/SmJgtBbW3GI/AAAAAAAACJE/b0fVNZHgYVs/s400/Justice+for+Beng+Hock+30x20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359952833117871202" border="0" />I am appalled by the death of this 30 zear old opposition chap.</a><br />Enough is said about the circumstances of his death which is highly suspicious. The police, who discounted murder 24 hours after his death did a u+turn today after the public outcry at the speed of police in absolving MACC.<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/USER/USTAWI%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />We have degenerated to the state in being able to kill or intimate people to commit suicide. in either case, MACC is responsible to either murder or manslaughter. In the 1970s when the FBI were causing suidcide by carelessly targetting Americans as Russian spies, the president was forced to resign.<br /><br />I just came from visiting Auswitch camp, in which 1.1 million Jews and Poles and russians were murdered. The Nazis have an ideology that they are superior. what started as an ideology in 1933 was then turned into action where they have total disregard to the inferior race. The concept of ketuanan Melayu is harmless according to our beloved politicians, and are unlike Nazism. But look at how these government servants are interpreting the worth of an inferior citizen, pushing him knowingly or to suicide by their tactics. In these camps, were were shared on the ways that the nazis pushes people to death or suicide.<br /><br />Ketuanan is an ideology that must be stopped!! Sooner or later, it maz degenerate the ideas into actions and that would be too late to stop. Start respecting each human being regardless of their differences.<br /><br />I am asking for at least the resignation of MACC chairman, Ahmad Said who have proven his incompetence in tackling BN related issues and extreme competence against any other parties. Najib should know that it is either him or Ahmad Said.amokerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11796429650849780970noreply@blogger.com1