I’ll confess that I didn’t know anything about this until last night (fireworks, dad and aunt) and today (KTemoc), but it’s a pretty darn interesting story (the corny rainbow is over a sugar cane field, apparently :)

Also just wanted to let the world know that this Hokkien lang was still alive :P Sadly though, I’ll still have to beg for your patience as I’m not quite ready to go back to full time blogging the same way I’ve been doing.

Will probably be looking for new directions, and will provide ample info and requests for feedback - by this week hopefully. So sorry once again!

Enjoy the rest of your CNY! :)

*

Can’t resist say two quick points tho:

- the first is a great chance to get involved with what sounds like some truly special work with the differently able. There is a play going up in early April staged by differently abled actors, and they are keenly on the lookout for volunteers - sounds like a truly great opportunity! (since the NST website is so lousy, I have reprinted the article - contact details for volunteering included - in full below)

- second: another shameful case of police abuse down in Port Dickson. I suspect and hope the ever vigilant folks at Police Watch will be on it soon.

One of them claimed he was assaulted in the officer’s room at the district police headquarters while the other said he was attacked at the magistrate’s court grounds.

M. Marimuthu, 32, and R. Mohanasundram, 26, claimed that the officer demanded RM450 from them, failing which he would find ways to arrest them again.

Mohanasundram said he was summoned to the district headquarters on Thursday and was punched in the face and back when he told the officer he could not come up with the money.

(Marimuthu’s) sister Vikneswary, 32, had to pawn her jewellery before they met the officer.

“The officer suddenly deman- ded a few hundred more. He said it was to cover the rental of the car that we were using on the day we were arrested,” Marimuthu said.

Marimuthu, Mohanasundram and Vikneswary then went and sat on a bench outside the court room when the officer came out and kicked his leg.

“My sister shouted but the officer said I deserved it because I was a thief,” Marimuthu alleged.

At this juncture, a witness, R. Plaindran, confronted the officer.

“I was upset. The officer had no respect for the family. He challenged us to lodge a report.”

So cocky. Can’t stand this culture of impunity! IPCMC now!!

[Read more →]

Tags: Impunity, Government Negligence, Civics, Law Enforcement by Nathaniel Tan
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 :D HNY all :) As usual, I borrow politikuses brilliant graphics - aren’t newwie and indy cute?? :)

Pig year could be pretty different from dog year for me. I confess, I’m a little trepiditious and have some concerns about dealing with some pressures. But I’m gonna try to have faith! :)

Re: specifics, there is probably stuff afoot (remember Yoda?), but will notify if/when final details are worked out - prob not long after the hols.

Three other shameless self-promotions:

- Book sales are going pretty good :) Do hope you’ll pick up a copy too! :D

- theCicak was kind enough to publish a piece I wrote on a recent pet topic, inspired by John Lee.

- ever wanted to hear what I sound like? Tee hee.. thanks to the guys (esp Joel Chua) at RSI! :)

Here’s hoping for fortune-filled, properous piggies all around! :D

Tags: little notes by Nathaniel Tan
4 Comments »

Utusan and The Star:

Datuk Abu Hassan Din Al-Hafiz said chastity belts would protect victims and also help reduce sex crime rate.

“My intention is not to offend women but to safeguard them from sex maniacs. Probably, this is the best way,” he said.

“Besides, husbands could also feel more secure, if you know what I mean,” he added.

Dunno, I think all I can do is laugh :P :)

Toni Kasim said it well in an e-mail:

And we are back at it again. Cawat besi to prevent rape. Where do these zaman batu gems come from? And he is cited as a ‘tokoh agama’! What a laugh.

Going by his ‘logic’, children and the elderly would need to walk around in chastity belts as well. But no, the saranan is for women. He might want to wear one himself considering rapists also rape men. Or put cawat besi on kambings and other animals since they get raped by rapists too.

Need graphic illustration? Check out Howsy :P :)

Amnesty Int’l however, is less than amused.

Tags: little points by Nathaniel Tan
1 Comment »

My dad’s kinda in the news yesterday! But not for the best of reasons.

He and his friends were terrorised by the APMM (Maritime Enforcement Agency - the people recently made responsible for security beyond 12 nautical miles of Malaysian shores) on the high seas.

[Read more →]

Tags: eyewitness, Government Policies, Law Enforcement by Nathaniel Tan
10 Comments »

Just back from mamak with politikus, Tian and Eli - good times, with plenty of informative sharings :) We talked of state vs. parliamentary constituencies, inter/intra-opposition politics, outreach strategies, voter behaviour and Jedi council meeting technologies (no seriously, remember those hologram thingies? :)

Actually, some serious balls may have begun rolling this evening, for humble me at least. Many implications, possibly. But promise to tell all if/when things become finalised! Bit of a scoop tomorrow involving family as well, I’m hoping! :P :)

Tags: little notes by Nathaniel Tan
8 Comments »

DS Radzi Sheikh Ahmad on MyKad contest withdrawal:

Asked whether the government was not afraid to be labelled a liar for calling off the lucky draws, Radzi said: “We do not lie. We just ask the public to forget about it.“

o_O ?!?!

He also goes on in the most typically shameful fashion imaginable to place all the blame on his predecessor DS Azmi Khalid.

So why now, all of a sudden? And as The Malaysian (increasingly prolific writer from whom I caught this) asks: exactly which orphanage is getting this Myvi? They giving out driver’s licenses to kids these days?

If it was a silly idea, fine, just don’t ever do it again. This kind of pullout makes it look like you just want the prizes alllllll to yourself - and remember, perception is everything.

Radzi was silent when asked whether the Cabinet was aware of his decision.

So when the Cabinet comes scolding him in light of the public outroar this is likely to follow, is he going to smile sheepishly, giggle and ask them to foged aboud idla…. :P

*

Elsewhere, DS Radzi’s Home Ministry is taking over the management of foreign workers. My eyebrows are raised very high. But it’s early yet, more analysis needed.

*

Ok, I don’t think readers are going to consider me the most objective authority on this, and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m gagap ekonomi (blur on economic matters).

But c’mon, this is three front pages in a row! (link for third headline on EPF no longer available on stupid NST archives - being a lousy newspaper doesn’t mean you should have a lousy website!)

Seriously. Even if I didn’t think there was something wrong with the economy before, I sure do now. Why else would Umno’s biggest English mouthpiece be so damn concerned about throwing huge figures at me in attempt to dazzle me into awed worship of the almighty government?

There’s been a groundswell of anti-spin activities. While one of the most promising economic blogs is newcomer Elanor (where’s your take on this!? :), other usual suspects are Malaysiakini letter writers, Jeff Ooi, Tony Pua and the like. Go there for detailed analysis.

For me, I just think it’s one of those signs of weaknesses. Like DS Abdullah saying “I’m in charge” or “I will continue to run the country.” A confident leader need not yap these things in public, just as a confident economy need not be highlighted three front pages in a row.

As has been expressed simply before - are you feeling invigorated by the economy? If you aren’t, and such big numbers aren’t completely made up (or the result of ‘creative accounting’), then someone is getting fat from all this ‘economic boom’, but it sure ain’t the rakyat.

ps- in fairness, have a look at what the IHT has to say.

Tags: Government Negligence, Economy, Responsible Free Speech, Migrants, Malaysian Politics by Nathaniel Tan
1 Comment »

Am here with politikus, who is sadly nursing a notty tummy :( We all wish her a speedy wecovery!

Delightful even in sickness, I shall borrow from her genius:

Tags: little notes by Nathaniel Tan
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