Not every saga has a happy ending but recent events which took up headlines and official media as well as unofficial (blogs) in Malaysia ended on a happy note.
The six missing people (four kids in Fraser's Hill and the father and son in Cameron Highlands) were finally found unharmed.
The Prime Minister intervened personally to ensure that the top SPM scorers finally obtained the Public Services Department (PSD) scholarships.
And today the Higher Education Ministry has approved two years' unpaid leave for Associate Professor Dr. Terence Gomez to enable him to take up the post of project manager for research in identity, conflict and social cohesion with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development. His forced retirement was duly revoked and thus enable Dr. Gomez to rejoin University of Malaya after his secondment ends.
Proves that in Malaysia, the "Authorities" do listen to the people.
12 June 2005
10 June 2005
Books Meme
Shsuya passed me this meme and here are my answers:
1) Total number of books I own:
Like Shsuya, I can't answer this. I have loads and can't possibly count. However, most of them are academic books.
2) The last book I bought:
The Glorious Qur'an by Ahmad Zidan and Dina Zidan
3) The last book I read:
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
4) 5 books that mean alot to me:
This was quite tough as a lot of books made an impression on me. However, I will list the 5 books which really made an impression.
a) The Quran (c. 650) Translation by Yusuf Ali
Presented to me by my wife when we were still friends. My first step into Islam.
b) Victor Hugo's Les Misérables
Very touching.
c) Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre
Yeah! The main character is a lady. So what?
d) JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy (actually that's three books, but I will count them as one. A bit of cheating Heh! Heh!)
e) I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. It is actually a collection of short stories. The famous 'Three Laws of Robotics' first appears in this book
5) Tag 5 people and have them fill this out on their blogs:
Sending this to Acat, Chics, Ezu, Ita and Lucia.
1) Total number of books I own:
Like Shsuya, I can't answer this. I have loads and can't possibly count. However, most of them are academic books.
2) The last book I bought:
The Glorious Qur'an by Ahmad Zidan and Dina Zidan
3) The last book I read:
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
4) 5 books that mean alot to me:
This was quite tough as a lot of books made an impression on me. However, I will list the 5 books which really made an impression.
a) The Quran (c. 650) Translation by Yusuf Ali
Presented to me by my wife when we were still friends. My first step into Islam.
b) Victor Hugo's Les Misérables
Very touching.
c) Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre
Yeah! The main character is a lady. So what?
d) JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy (actually that's three books, but I will count them as one. A bit of cheating Heh! Heh!)
e) I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. It is actually a collection of short stories. The famous 'Three Laws of Robotics' first appears in this book
5) Tag 5 people and have them fill this out on their blogs:
Sending this to Acat, Chics, Ezu, Ita and Lucia.
08 June 2005
Faster Processing of PR Applications in Malaysia
I welcome the Government’s recent announcement that the applications for permanent resident (PR) status in Malaysia would be processed faster.
The Government has also doubled the number of people granted the power to sign the approval for PR applications to four: namely, the Home Minister, the Immigration Department's Director-general, Deputy Director-general and Director of visa. Previously, only the former two had the power to approve the applications.
According to the Deputy Home Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho, they have a backlog of more than 10,000 applications. He added that under the new system, “applicants would not be kept in the dark about their status”. I know of a few applicants who have been doing just that – waiting patiently for several years without any news. Some highly qualified people have since then, moved to other countries.
I just hope they would give priority to professionals married to Malaysians and those who have been working here for a long time. I am sick and tired of hearing of uneducated, unemployed PR holders involved in acts of crime and terrorism. The point system used in Australia is not perfect but I think would be a great system to emulate. It ensures that only people who can contribute to the country and society have a better chance of becoming Permanent residents of the country.
For your information, foreign women married to Malaysians have to approved by the immigration department, while foreign men married to Malaysian women and other applicants have to be approved by the Home Ministry.
Read “Shorter wait for PR applicants” in the Star.
The Government has also doubled the number of people granted the power to sign the approval for PR applications to four: namely, the Home Minister, the Immigration Department's Director-general, Deputy Director-general and Director of visa. Previously, only the former two had the power to approve the applications.
According to the Deputy Home Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho, they have a backlog of more than 10,000 applications. He added that under the new system, “applicants would not be kept in the dark about their status”. I know of a few applicants who have been doing just that – waiting patiently for several years without any news. Some highly qualified people have since then, moved to other countries.
I just hope they would give priority to professionals married to Malaysians and those who have been working here for a long time. I am sick and tired of hearing of uneducated, unemployed PR holders involved in acts of crime and terrorism. The point system used in Australia is not perfect but I think would be a great system to emulate. It ensures that only people who can contribute to the country and society have a better chance of becoming Permanent residents of the country.
For your information, foreign women married to Malaysians have to approved by the immigration department, while foreign men married to Malaysian women and other applicants have to be approved by the Home Ministry.
Read “Shorter wait for PR applicants” in the Star.
06 June 2005
World Environment Day
Yesterday, the 5th of June, was celebrated as World Environment Day around the World. The day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.
In New York, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for the creation of green cities saying:
"Let us tap the great knowledge and natural dynamism of urban areas and create 'green cities' where people can raise their children and pursue their dreams in a well-planned, clean and healthy environment,"
Looking around, I can see that whatever green cover we had in the cities are being lost in the name of development. Way up north in Kedah, its not so bad, but it is very obvious in the urban centres of KL and Penang, where we have concerete jungles.
I hope Malaysian town planners/developers would heed his call.
In New York, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for the creation of green cities saying:
"Let us tap the great knowledge and natural dynamism of urban areas and create 'green cities' where people can raise their children and pursue their dreams in a well-planned, clean and healthy environment,"
Looking around, I can see that whatever green cover we had in the cities are being lost in the name of development. Way up north in Kedah, its not so bad, but it is very obvious in the urban centres of KL and Penang, where we have concerete jungles.
I hope Malaysian town planners/developers would heed his call.
Review of d' Tandoor Restaurant Ampang
Sometime back, my father informed me that one of our distant relatives who now resides in the US would be in KL for business. That was in March. I felt quite bad as he was staying alone and something or the other would turn up, everytime I planned to meet up with him. I finaly got the chance yestrday.
With my wife, my daughter and maid in tow, I picked him up from Lanson Place, Jalan (road) Ampang and took him to the D’Tandoor Restaurant just down the road. Actually he picked the place. Jalan Ampang is known for its killer traffic jams but there were hardly any traffic yesterday.
The restaurant is situated on the Ground Floor of Wisma Chinese Chamber and serves North Indian cuisine. There were only a few patrons and we didn't have to queue and got nice a nice table by the window.
I didn't take my camera so I can't show any of the dishes we had. I had a sweet Lassi, which was terrific. We ordered a plate of Hydrabhadi Briyani (lamb cooked with basmathi rice and spices), plain rice and Naan. We also orderd Fish Methi (fish curry with fenugreek leaves), Vegetable Jal Frezy (mixed vegetables), Palak Paneer (cheese with spinach) and Dhall Tharka. which we shared.
Palak Paneer is one of all time favourite dishes and unlike other places, they had generous helpings of Paneer (cheese) in the dish here. The food was delicious and I had a little too much. However, I made a little room for the Dessert. I shared my Rasmalai with my relative (uncle?), while my wife had Kulfi (indian style ice cream).
Altogether, the bill came to about RM140, which was very reasonable. I was about to pick up the tab but my uncle snatched it away. According to him, he had a policy of not letting younger people pay. It felt a bit odd becaue I was the one who had invited him out for the lunch. Anyway, as they say there is always a next time.
If you want to try out authentic North Indian cuisine in Kuala Lumpur, I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant.
With my wife, my daughter and maid in tow, I picked him up from Lanson Place, Jalan (road) Ampang and took him to the D’Tandoor Restaurant just down the road. Actually he picked the place. Jalan Ampang is known for its killer traffic jams but there were hardly any traffic yesterday.
The restaurant is situated on the Ground Floor of Wisma Chinese Chamber and serves North Indian cuisine. There were only a few patrons and we didn't have to queue and got nice a nice table by the window.
I didn't take my camera so I can't show any of the dishes we had. I had a sweet Lassi, which was terrific. We ordered a plate of Hydrabhadi Briyani (lamb cooked with basmathi rice and spices), plain rice and Naan. We also orderd Fish Methi (fish curry with fenugreek leaves), Vegetable Jal Frezy (mixed vegetables), Palak Paneer (cheese with spinach) and Dhall Tharka. which we shared.
Palak Paneer is one of all time favourite dishes and unlike other places, they had generous helpings of Paneer (cheese) in the dish here. The food was delicious and I had a little too much. However, I made a little room for the Dessert. I shared my Rasmalai with my relative (uncle?), while my wife had Kulfi (indian style ice cream).
Altogether, the bill came to about RM140, which was very reasonable. I was about to pick up the tab but my uncle snatched it away. According to him, he had a policy of not letting younger people pay. It felt a bit odd becaue I was the one who had invited him out for the lunch. Anyway, as they say there is always a next time.
If you want to try out authentic North Indian cuisine in Kuala Lumpur, I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant.
02 June 2005
American Vs Malaysian Kids
Received another forwarded mail from my wife:
Letter to Dad 1:
To all the parents with teenage kids.....
A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see the bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope propped up prominently on the centre of the bed. It was addressed, "Dad". With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:
Dear Dad,
It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. I've been finding real passion with Joan and she is so nice even with all her piercing, tattoos, and her tight motorcycle clothes.
But it's not only the passion dad, she's pregnant and Joan said that we will be very happy. Even though you don't care for her as she is so much older than I, she already owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. She wants to have many more children with me and that's now one of my dreams too.
Joan taught me that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone and we'll be growing it for us and trading it with her friends for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want.
In the meantime, we'll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Joan can get better; she sure deserves it!! Don't worry Dad, I'm 15 years old now and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure we'll be back to visit so you can get to know your grandchildren.
Your son, John
PS: Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at the neighbor's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than my report card that's in my desk centre drawer. I love you! Call when it is safe for me to come home.
**********************************************************
That is a typical letter from a typical American kid.
Letter to Dad 2:
A typical letter from a Malaysian kid would be:
Dear Dad,
I have decided to commit suicide. I only got 7A1s for my SPM exam and therefore, failed to live up to your expectation which is to beat Amalina, the Malay girl who got into the Malaysian Book of Record Winner with 17A1s.
Now you will not be able to brag to your friends about how intelligent your son is. And you will also feel that you wasted all the money on my education from kindergarten fees to extra tuition classes, etc. etc.
Bye.
Yours truly,
Typical Malaysian son.
p.s. Dad, I think you also wasted your money on the special milk you have been buying for me which is supposed to increase children's intelligence. I suggest you use another brand for my little sister.
Letter to Dad 1:
To all the parents with teenage kids.....
A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see the bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope propped up prominently on the centre of the bed. It was addressed, "Dad". With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:
Dear Dad,
It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. I've been finding real passion with Joan and she is so nice even with all her piercing, tattoos, and her tight motorcycle clothes.
But it's not only the passion dad, she's pregnant and Joan said that we will be very happy. Even though you don't care for her as she is so much older than I, she already owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. She wants to have many more children with me and that's now one of my dreams too.
Joan taught me that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone and we'll be growing it for us and trading it with her friends for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want.
In the meantime, we'll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Joan can get better; she sure deserves it!! Don't worry Dad, I'm 15 years old now and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure we'll be back to visit so you can get to know your grandchildren.
Your son, John
PS: Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at the neighbor's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than my report card that's in my desk centre drawer. I love you! Call when it is safe for me to come home.
**********************************************************
That is a typical letter from a typical American kid.
Letter to Dad 2:
A typical letter from a Malaysian kid would be:
Dear Dad,
I have decided to commit suicide. I only got 7A1s for my SPM exam and therefore, failed to live up to your expectation which is to beat Amalina, the Malay girl who got into the Malaysian Book of Record Winner with 17A1s.
Now you will not be able to brag to your friends about how intelligent your son is. And you will also feel that you wasted all the money on my education from kindergarten fees to extra tuition classes, etc. etc.
Bye.
Yours truly,
Typical Malaysian son.
p.s. Dad, I think you also wasted your money on the special milk you have been buying for me which is supposed to increase children's intelligence. I suggest you use another brand for my little sister.
30 May 2005
Brainwashed Idiots
Yesterday some people really pissed me off and I can't get it out of my head.
I was with my wife and we got into this conversation with some people. I won't elaborate on the whole discussion but here are two things they said, which really made me mad:
1. Malaysia is not Islamic.
This is open to discussion but their reasons which i found really stupid:
- Muslims do not follow all the sunnah of the Prophet pbuh, like taking wuduh (abulations before praying) too fast.
- Azan is not loud enough in Malaysia.
- There are cinema halls.
- Kafir (non believers) control the country.
- Women do not cover themselves.
To them these are the most important issues. What about working hard, no corruption, not cheating people, education, etc. Not that important.
2. I converted to Islam because of marriage.
One guy actually had the guts to say then when I explained that I was a convert (or revert) to Islam. Thank God I kept my cool or I would have wacked them right there.
According to them, most people who convert have an ulterior motive. They could not comprehend that people would convert because they loved the religion. They kept quiet when I told them that I converted 2 years before I married. I also reminded that all the followers of the Prophet and the earliest Muslims were all converts and not born Muslims. Malaysia is also one of the countries with the highest number of converts to Islam as compared to some other so called “more Islamic” countries.
They realized I was getting angry. Or I guess our reasoning was getting through their thick skulls. They then started praising Malaysia and agreed that Malaysia was a model of a progressive and peaceful country. They said, “Yah! Yah!” “That’s why god protected Malaysia from Tsunami.” According to them the Tsunami was sent by Allah (God) to punish the wayward Muslims in Indonesia. WHAT!
What about Palestinians? Earthquake in Iran? War in Afghanistan, Iraq? Are the Muslims there being punished too for being wayward?
I realized then I was talking to a couple of complete idiots who had been brainwashed by their so called Ulamas.
I was with my wife and we got into this conversation with some people. I won't elaborate on the whole discussion but here are two things they said, which really made me mad:
1. Malaysia is not Islamic.
This is open to discussion but their reasons which i found really stupid:
- Muslims do not follow all the sunnah of the Prophet pbuh, like taking wuduh (abulations before praying) too fast.
- Azan is not loud enough in Malaysia.
- There are cinema halls.
- Kafir (non believers) control the country.
- Women do not cover themselves.
To them these are the most important issues. What about working hard, no corruption, not cheating people, education, etc. Not that important.
2. I converted to Islam because of marriage.
One guy actually had the guts to say then when I explained that I was a convert (or revert) to Islam. Thank God I kept my cool or I would have wacked them right there.
According to them, most people who convert have an ulterior motive. They could not comprehend that people would convert because they loved the religion. They kept quiet when I told them that I converted 2 years before I married. I also reminded that all the followers of the Prophet and the earliest Muslims were all converts and not born Muslims. Malaysia is also one of the countries with the highest number of converts to Islam as compared to some other so called “more Islamic” countries.
They realized I was getting angry. Or I guess our reasoning was getting through their thick skulls. They then started praising Malaysia and agreed that Malaysia was a model of a progressive and peaceful country. They said, “Yah! Yah!” “That’s why god protected Malaysia from Tsunami.” According to them the Tsunami was sent by Allah (God) to punish the wayward Muslims in Indonesia. WHAT!
What about Palestinians? Earthquake in Iran? War in Afghanistan, Iraq? Are the Muslims there being punished too for being wayward?
I realized then I was talking to a couple of complete idiots who had been brainwashed by their so called Ulamas.
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