EMPTY PROMISES.

The season for "accidental" death begins.
The toll for the past 4 years stands at 20.
It will be so very heartbreaking to hear of the 21st victim of Khidmat Nereka.

First-time National Service trainees being welcomed at the White Resort NS camp in Kampung Genting, Balik Pulau in Penang, before starting their three month stint. Now in its fifth year, more than 300,000 youths have undergone NS training.

Is Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar threating our opposition leaders or is he being flippant over the assassination of Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan? Either way, it sucks.

The assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto shortly after she held a political rally showed why Malaysia was against street demonstrations, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
He said demonstrations could lead to violence and Malaysia rejected all forms of violence, including that involving militancy…..
“We don’t want a democracy that can cause havoc and deaths,” he said after opening a forum on Malay culture here yesterday.

Empty promises from the opposition?
Mr Najib, surely you could not have so easily forgotten the many unfulfilled promises of Barsian Nasional's 2004 election manifesto?

The opposition’s promises to reduce oil prices if it were to form a government will only bankrupt the country, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
The Deputy Prime Minister said it was “just not possible” for the opposition to bring fuel prices down, pointing out that they were only fooling the people with empty promises.

IS THIS THE TRUTH?

An interesting political advertisement from the 2007 presidential election in Argentina.
Listen to it.
Do we need to turn things upside down in the coming election?
The Warong kopi has made the decision.
You decide.

THE DEFENSELESS SHALL THAN BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE NATION.

In Acheh, aid and subsidy create a post Tsunami “money for nothing, food for free” generation.

Rusydi Syahra, a researcher from the Center for Society and Cultural Studies at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said the tremendous tsunami aid given to Acehnese had "wiped out" the community's sense of independence.
"People have been continuously dependent on disaster aid and have lost their ability to stand on their own feet," Rusydi said. He said various free support in the way of housing, clean water and health services, had unintentionally spoiled local people at all levels of society.
"One clear indication here has been a growing conviction among the survivors that they are entitled to those amenities indefinitely," Rusydi said. "Many Acehnese youth would rather be jobless than work with a limited salary, even though the numbers are reasonable for their level of education,"
Rusydi said. "How will these people who are too dependent on aid money survive when the money is no longer available?"

In Malaysia the UMNO run government has a 30 year head start in introducing the intoxicating opium of “special right and special privilege”. That “birth-right” sweetness of today will be the nation poison of tomorrow.
And when that tomorrow comes, the political minority shall then bear the burden of a nation.

The Government will continue to help the bumiputras, particularly in equity possession. “We will not do anything that is seen as depriving other races of their rights. We will only demand whatever rights the bumiputra has. That is all,” Najib said.

RATS THAT WALK ON TWO.

We have even bigger rats in Malaysia, they saunter up and down the corridors of power and walk on their two hind legs. These rats have no fear for man or God and dripping with honey, they talk with the forked tongue of adder snakes.

Researchers in a remote jungle in Indonesia have discovered a giant rat and a tiny possum that are apparently new to science, underscoring the stunning biodiversity of the Southeast Asian nation, scientists said Monday.
"The giant rat is about five times the size of a typical city rat," said Kristofer Helgen, a scientist with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. "With no fear of humans, it apparently came into the camp several times during the trip."

RENEW YOUR ROAD TAX AT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.

Abu Zahar and his like-minded opportunists of this country are the result of the NEP gone awry. The NEP has pushed these opportunists within less than a generation from the hovels of poverty into the palace of plenty. Yet Zahar and his ilk would seek to prevent the real poor from trying to achieve a semblance of parity with them.
The leaders of Hindraf do not seek to institute discriminatory policies against their fellow citizens, which happen to be the forte of the UMNO run government. Hindraf only seeks for a fairer distribution of the nation’s resources.
They are the megaphones that amplify the pent up frustrations of the poor and for that they are the real patriots of this nation.
The opportunists and traitors sit in power in this land today.

"The Hindraf leaders have been described as opportunists and traitors to their race and country.
In saying this, the Council of Former People's Representatives (Mubarak) president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang added: "The harmony and prosperity of Malaysians thus far should not be crushed by a small group of extremists like them."
While Mubarak fully supported the actions taken by the government to arrest and detain the Hindraf leaders under the ISA, Abu Zahar said the people should continue to show respect for all races."

Brain Damaged Champion for the Week.
Public Complaints Bureau DG Chua Hong Teik says

“If one waits at the bank for hours, not much discontent is shown. But if the situation is in a government department, scores of complaint will come”

The Warong kopi avoids doing business with Maybank because of its incredibly slow service. The Warong kopi has a banking alternative.
Given a choice , I would certainly welcome the alternative of renewing my road tax with the recently revamped and more efficient Immigration Department.

...... LOVED MOZART AND BACH. AND SPURS. AND MOST OF ALL, HIS GOD

What can you say about a twenty-five-year-old girl who died? That she was beautiful. And brilliant. That she loved Mozart and Bach. And the Beatles. And me. (Opening lines of Love Story 1970).

Zi On was 25 when he was swept away.
The comments that I have read tell of a man whose life impacted lives.
It tells of a man who exuded life to others and brought sadness and tears when he voluntarily walked away from life's stage.
It tells of a man whose humour dwells even after laughter faded.
It tells of a soul whose passion was to others first and to self last.

So what can you say about a twenty-five-year-old man who died? That he was beautiful. And brilliant. That he loved Mozart and Bach. And Spurs. And most of all, his God.

I am sure he would love to have you know his God.

A MAN FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS PARENTS.

Tomorrow will be the 7^th day when Zi On was swept out from the beach of Moreton Island.
In our walk along life’s journey, there are people who need to be constantly encouraged.
And there are people who encourage constantly.
But there are the very far and very few who in the face of their own heart wrenching adversity continue to encourage you.
I received this SMS this afternoon afternoon.

"This morning, (the) Lord reminds me of this verse & my heart is encouraged - "I know whom I have believed & am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day" 2 Tim 1:12. Thank you our brothers and sisters (in Christ) and all in the family, friends , church for your love and prayers, sms. Be encouraged too! Love Cho Tan, Kerk and ZiLu"

Cho Tan’s sister who sent the SMS to me remarked, “That is so like Cho Tan, she encourages even in the face of her own adversity”.
Zi On was such a man following the very footsteps of his parents.

From left :
Cousins Eu Ming,Eu Ying,
Zi On,Eileen,Erwin (who flew to Brisbane the same day on hearing the tragic news) and their aunt Cho Bee.
Links:
Oldtestamentpassion.blogspot.com
Bobjots.org
Whimutt.blogspot.com
Shisira.blogspot.com
1stklbb.wordpress.com
knotsofgervienetics.blogspot.com
Taipingcoffee.blogspot.com
Blurangel.com
Zionkerk.blogspot.com
Lipkeng.blogspot.com
Understanding-axiao.blogspot.com
Blueyjo.blogspot.com
Babybodybuilder.blogspot.com
lemueltan.blogdrive.com

AN UNSUNG MALAYSIAN HERO HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM OUR MIDST.

Yesterday was the 5th day when Zi On went missing while saving the life of a complete stranger. The air and sea search for him will shift from saving his life to the recovery of his body as the search moves to the deeper water.
While the world bustle on an unsung Malaysian hero (largely ignored by our Malaysian press) has been taken from our midst.

THE family of a Malaysian-born man missing off Moreton Island yesterday spoke of their pride in their son's heroic final actions as hopes of finding him alive all but evaporated.
Zion Kerk, 25, was last seen assisting a young Korean woman in Honeymoon Bay on the northern tip of the island at 3.40pm on Wednesday.
Police described how he threw the woman on to rocks, possibly saving her life before he was swept away by a wave.
Brother Brian Kerk, who flew to Brisbane from Melbourne to be with his grieving parents, said it did not surprise him to hear Zion had put someone else's well-being before his own.
"He was always helping people. He has such a kind nature. It's just like him to do something like this," said Mr Kerk fighting back tears.
"He's not a big guy. He's like a stick and he was not a strong swimmer . . . It's such a shock," he said. "He will always be my older brother."
Mother Chong Cho Tan who flew from Malaysia last night with Zion's father Kerk Choon Keng, said her eldest son was a sergeant in the boys' brigade who kept a "low profile".
"He was a loving son, a good brother. We're a very close family," Mrs Kerk said.
She said Zion had studied commerce and accounting in Canberra before moving to Brisbane to undertake a master's degree in property valuation at the University of Queensland.
"We're hoping for the best but if God has taken him then we have to accept that," Mrs Kerk said.
Mr Kerk said the family had been briefed by the water police and understood the search would soon become a recovery operation for his body.

Top Picture
Zi On swimming in the pool fronting their residence. - photograph taken around 1987.

From the left
Kerk Choon Keng, Kerk Zi Lu, Kerk Zi On, Chong Cho Tan - photograph taken in 2000.

THAMBI ..... THE HOT LINE DOES NOT COOL THE HOT SEAT.

The overkill on protesters shifts from tear gassing in Kuala Lumpur to numerical intimidation in Penang.
It takes 200 fully armed anti riot personnel and their trucks complete with water cannon to face off less than 10 PKR supporters armed with only the blessing from the poor.
King Leonidas of Sparta would have been pleased to call them "The 10 .... Spartans".

More than 200 policemen and Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) anti-riot personnel surrounded the court building here early this morning when Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Supreme Council member N.Gobalakrishnan was brought to court here to be charged with obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty.
With fewer than 10 PKR supporters in sight, the FRU and police attracted curious onlookers as they sealed off the slip road leading to the court building and screened every car entering the court carpark area. As early as about 8am, about 10 FRU trucks complete with water cannons parked on standby in the area while another 10 police vehicles were parked in front of the court building.

The PM says he has big ears and thinks he has heard the cries of the Indian poor, however his SIL and the SOH (Son of Hussein) play the role of Grima Wormtomgue and say the Indian poor protests too much and are not representative of the Indian minority.
But the terribly confused mandor of UMNO says....."I will set up a hot line but it will take time."
Ah-yo yo, Thambi.... the hot line does not cool the hot seat, what is new ?

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said although the contents of Hindraf's letter to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown incited racial and religious sentiments, they were also "illogical".
"It did not represent the views of all Indians in Malaysia. In this matter, our enemy is not the Indian community. Hindraf doesn't represent all Indians, so be rational.

Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin …. reiterated that Hindraf members did not represent the majority of Indians in Malaysia as those who participated in the illegal rally numbered a few thousand compared with the millions in the country," he said.
"I am sure that the majority of Indians support the government and Umno." religious sentiments, they were also "illogical".

The country does not need another reverse engineering debacle like our much vaunted national car project. Proton went for reverse engineering and remains to this day in reversal whilst Hyundai Motor Corporation which emerged almost the same time has gone forward to be a global player.
The only reengineering that is badly needed in Negara-ku is for the electorate to kick out idiots from our parliament.
Let's begin with the obnoxious Bad-rude-din of Jerai and move on to Mohd Rudin of Bukit Katil for agreeing to use public funds to buy metal scrap than to use it to empower Malaysia's poor and needy.

TECHNOLOGY and Innovations Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Dr Mohd Ruddin Abdul Ghani was continuously heckled by the Opposition when he could not put a price on a Soyuz capsule boarded by Malaysia’s first Angkasawan.
Fong asked how did buying a Soyuz capsule benefit the country when the money could be used to help the poor.
Dr Mohd Ruddin then retorted: “Have you not heard of reverse engineering? You are not a scientist so you do not know.
“Reverse engineering means you buy a product like the capsule or car and open it up and learn how to make your own. Surely we want our Angkasawan to fly in a local capsule.

WHERE ASSAULT COMES BEFORE TALK.

The people continue to suffer when their mandor maintains the position of disregarding them.

A total of 105 people who took part in the protests on Sunday are still being detained while 24 were released last night.
They would also be investigated under Section 188 of the Penal Code for disobeying the court’s order not to a hold a gathering in front of the British Embassy.
“We will also investigate them for other offences and forward the investigation papers to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action,” Comm Wan said.

The Warong kopi fully agrees with UMNO's electoral chief in that elections in Malaysia have reached a high standard of being "free and fair".
Right! the ruling party is free to do whatever it likes and this is seen as fair to the Chief of the election commission.

Malaysia's electoral chief said Monday that national polls will be held soon, and rejected opposition demands for reforms to ensure transparency.
Abdul Rashid insisted that any claims of electoral impropriety are baseless.
"We have done very well," he said. "If you talk in terms of free and fair elections ... we have achieved quite a high standard. As far as we are concerned, everything is transparent."

To control protest in Malaysia the Deputy Internal Security Minister says,
1. It is okay to tear gas and hose down protesters with chemical laced water.
2. Than only the “soft” approach of asking the crowd to disperse.
Assault comes before talk.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum defended the approach taken by the police in breaking up the illegal demonstration by Hindraf yesterday, and in handling the more than 10,000 protestors.
Johari said that after trying to disperse the demonstrators through the use of tear gas and water cannons, the police used the "soft approach" by asking Hindraf leaders to address the crowds to tell them to disperse.

THAMBI.....WHAT IS NEW IN YOUR LIFE?

The UMNO run government warmly welcomes foreign millionaires and billionaires to gather in Malaysia.

Some 1,000 millionaires and billionaires are expected to visit the country next month to attend the "Journey Through Time" watch and jewellery exhibition. The event is in conjunction with the Malaysia Year End Sale (M-YES) carnival.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the event, organised by YTL Corporation Bhd, was also a way for Malaysia to introduce itself as a shoppers' paradise among the elite.

But they use violence to trample on the legitimate rights of the Indian poor to gather in peace.

Ten thousand people ignored official warnings to stay away from a planned rally here, turning up this morning near the British High Commission to hand a memorandum to representatives of the mission, claiming that they had been marginalised and seeking compensation from the British Government.
Police fired tear gas and water cannons at the demonstrators and arrested dozens.

And as boot-lickers within their community abet in the use of violence to suppress their poor by calling it an illegal gathering.

Community leaders from 25 leading Indian associations have backed MIC’s call for tomorrow's Hindraf march to the British High Commission to be cancelled because there are too many political, economic and social concerns at stake.
“Investors are watching us closely, and if they do not have good vibes about this country, they will shift their attention elsewhere“ said Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry public relations and publicity chairman K. Ramesh.
The leaders said they would advise their 500,000-odd members to steer clear of the gathering.

Shameless wannabe leaders of the community fight for scraps that fall off the table of suppression.

In setting up MIUP, Nallakaruppan said the priority of the new party was to address the Indian community problem using fresh ideas and new blood.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president Datuk M. Kayveas should meet with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over seat allocations in the coming general election, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali advised.
The Indian Progressive (IPF) will continue to give full support to the Barisan National even though it is not o­ne of the BN component parties.
This was conveyed by its President, Datuk M.G Pandithan to the media, after he was visited by Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

So Thambi, what is new in your life?

FOR THE POOR, VAMPIRES CONTINUE TO RIDE ON THEIR BACK.

The PM proposal for meritocracy will as usual come to nothing.
The DPM has already dismissed his boss proposal and has called for an additional 40 years to cultivate a learned and knowledgeable “2057 Malay generation”. The ace in his pack of cards has been thrown - the Malay Poor.
Delegates to the UMNO AGM will pick this scent and will demand and clamor for more “assistance” from the UMNO run government ostensibly to achieve this noble objective.
It will not be the poor who will benefit.
It will be the politically connected who will benefit most when the contracts are issued.
For the poor, the vampires within the UMNO run government will continue to ride on their back.

The Malays have been urged to give priority to early childhood education to produce a learned and knowledgeable "2057 generation" to propel the nation to greater heights. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the Malays must think of the challenges ahead and the areas to be given priority in the next 50 years.

With their bad mouthing against each other put on hold, the leaders of the MIC and the PPP will need an outlet to vent their hostility.
Perhaps a bout of fencing in the buff will allow them to view themselves to be what they really are.
Stripped of their feudal powers, titles and fine clothing’s there is no difference between them.
In fact they have a strong similarity that they cannot refute. Both have very miserably failed the Indian community as they remain disproportionately poor and trapped in a life of quiet desperation.

MIC and PPP should immediately stop bickering openly and avoid challenging one another, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. “This is no good and it is not our (Barisan Nasional’s) way. We want a good relationship between Barisan Nasional component parties. MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and PPP president Datuk M. Kayveas have been on a war of words with each other in the media recently.

BLAME IT ON THE BLACK STAR....BLAME IT ON THE FALLING SKY.

No one plans to be "cop killers".
The chain of command must bear full responsibility for this fatal debacle.
It is their superior's bad planning and preparation that caused the deaths of these 2 good men.
For lack of a better example, it is like begging to be "tangkap basah" for humping in a car in broad daylight - knowing fully well that the voyeurs from JAIS are on the prowl.
Let's hear it from the top brass blaming this failure on the black star and on the falling sky.

Get the cop killers – that was Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s order to his men following the killing of two detectives who were gunned down during a drug bust in Sungai Buloh on Thursday night.
A furious Musa also wants his men to use all resources available to bring to book the trigger-happy gunmen who also shot and wounded two police Inspectors during the incident at Kampung Desa Aman.

Gollum of the Misty Mountain.
You cannot expect any niceties from a man whose name consists of 3 separate syllable which sounds like Bad-rude-din.
For the next election, let's send him back to where he belongs, the cave on the misty mountain of Gunung Jerai.

DATUK Badruddin Amiruldin (MP of Jerai) who on Monday said Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh was wheelchair-bound because "God has punished you" has refused to retract the remark.
Karpal yesterday asked Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib to direct Badruddin to retract the remark and apologise. He waved a copy of the New Straits Times which had published three letters from representatives of disabled organisations criticising Badruddin's choice of words against him and its connotation to those who were disabled.
However, Ramli declined to order Badruddin to apologise or retract the statement and said the matter should have been raised on Monday.

WHEN EVERY SEN MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.

Mullah Azlan Zainol has done a good job in trying to get the poor and helpless non Muslim widows and widowers to convert. He targets them when their needs are the greatest and when every sen makes the difference between starvation and hunger.

Beginning June 1 next year, any claim on a deceased spouse’s Employers Provident Fund savings will only be paid once the claimant reaches the age of 55.
According to EPF chief executive officer Datuk Azlan Zainol, this would apply to cases where a person obtained a court order stating that the claimant would get the contributor’s savings.
“However, this only applies to non-Muslims. That is because of the fatwa that EPF savings is not matrimonial property,” he said yesterday.

For $3.1 billion, Malaysia bought 18 Sukhoi fighters and a free tour for the angkasa-nought.
What has $4.5 billion bought us?
2 Scorpene submarines and the Altantuya murder trial.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak flew here to attend the unveiling of the vessel, just hours after witnessing the historic mission at Moscow’s Mission Control Centre.
By January 2009, the Scorpene is expected to cruise home, manned by the country’s first submarine crew, while the second vessel is scheduled for delivery by October that year.The two submarines are being jointly built by DCNS of France and Navantia of Spain.

TAIL YOU LOOSE AND HEAD I WIN

Oil price going towards the US$100 per barrel ?
Filling the coffers of Petronas for more mega-ringgit bailouts.
Another justification for petrol hike to squeeze the common people.

Crude oil rose above $88 a barrel in New York as the dollar declined to a record low against the euro, enhancing the appeal of commodities as an investment.
Investors purchased oil on speculation the Federal Reserve will cut borrowing costs to bolster the U.S. economy.
Oil reached records the past four days on concern Turkey will use military force against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, a step that the U.S. says may damage Iraqi security and disrupt oil supplies.

The real unheralded Malaysian "angka -1"

The eight subjects are: further mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, art and design, French and mathematics. Nine students have made the country proud by being the world's top scorers of eight subjects in the Cambridge A-Level examinations in June.
University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) assistant director Nick Sansome said he was surprised Malaysian students have done so well in mathematics and science.
I have never seen such outstanding mathematics results. When I was shown the results, I could not believe it. The maths results are second to none," he told reporters after the CIE's Brilliance in Malaysia Awards today, adding that students elsewhere were struggling maths.

And the Angkasa-nought prepares to return for datukship.

ASTRONAUTS returning to Earth on Sunday will be taking their seats with them.
Today, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Musta-pha and International Space Station commander Feodor Yuchikin and medical doctor Oleg Kotov will transfer the seats used in their journeys to the ISS into the Soyuz craft which will take them back to Earth.

ANOTHER STATISTIC, ANOTHER DEJA VU.

It is another statistic soon to be forgotten. Another Deja vu headline to be publish. “Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi expressed his concern and says that the government is unhappy that such an accident occurred.”

The search and rescue (SAR) operation for missing passengers of the ill-fated “Seagull Express” ferry, which caught fire seven nautical miles off Tioman Island yesterday, killing 4 people, resumed this morning.

To some uncaring moneybag, the next person life is as cheap as paying for their victim’s funeral.
The Warong kopi demands that the directors should not escape accountability and be prosecuted for manslaughter.
When will the killing ends?

Seagull Express and Accommodation Sdn Bhd, operator of the “Seagull Express” ferry that caught fire and sank near Pulau Tokong Bahara, seven nautical miles from Pulau Tioman yesterday, will pay for the funeral expenses of the four holidaymakers killed in the tragedy.

Psssst.... Let us take the advice of the Minister of Propaganda into heart. Don’t tell the Prime Minister the truth.
The thousands who converged at the PWTC do not have anything to do with cherishing each other; it is really very Malaysian -- like the circus and it's clowns, it is all about the fun and the food.

Some 200,000 people from all walks of life thronged the Putra World Trade Centre on Saturday for the prime minister's and Muslim ministers' Hari Raya open house.The VIPs were greeted by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, as well as other ministers and their wives.

RIGHT MESSAGE BUT WRONG AUDIENCE.

The grand Muftis drum beat would have even been more appropriate if they had not tried to seize the high moral ground and had directed their "2 common foundation" message to their flocks.

Dozens of Muslim leaders from around the world released a letter yesterday to "leaders of Christian churches everywhere" emphasizing the shared theological roots of the two faiths and saying the survival of the world depends on them finding common ground.
The document, "A Common Word Between Us and You," was signed by 138 clerics, scholars and others and released at news conferences in Jordan, London, Abu Dhabi and Washington.
The letter was addressed to more than 30 Christian leaders, including Pope Benedict and the leaders of the world's Orthodox Christians and Anglicans. Its signatories include present and former grand muftis of Syria, Slovenia, Palestine and Egypt, as well as professors, political leaders and advocates such as the co-founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The key point of the 29-page letter is that Christianity and Islam share two foundations: love of one God, and love of one's neighbor.

In true Malaysia-boleh fashion, you only need to be an ex-railway gatekeeper from UMNO to overrule the indignant cry of the common people and to inore the displeasure of a Sultan.

The mansion is built on 43,000 sq feet of land in Kampung Idaman, while the size of his current home can only be described as an extensively renovated low-cost house.
The 21/2-storey mansion has a large fish pond and swimming pool. The main hall's flooring is marble-tiled with many chandeliers.
There is also a mini golf course and a large garage. The size of the master bedroom could only be compared to an apartment and its attached bathroom comes with a jacuzzi.

Perhaps, the government needs more time to establish another three-member independent panel to probe and determine the authenticity of the AG report.

Government officers and staff investigated for corruption and mismanagement of public funds under the 2006 Auditor-General’s (AG) report will either be charged in court soon or face disciplinary action.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, told a media briefing yesterday that the Government would use a three-pronged approach to rectify problems highlighted under the AG’s report.
“If it involves corruption and there is clear evidence, the ACA will charge those responsible, and you can expect this to happen very soon.
“If there are clear abuses but the case lacks evidence, disciplinary action will be taken against them,” he said.
The AG’s report highlighted the National Youth Skills Institute (under the Youth and Sports Ministry) project where a car jack that cost RM50 was bought for RM5,700, a digital camera that cost RM2,990 was bought for RM8,254 and RM1,146 was paid for a set of technical pens with a market price of RM160.

The Malaysian spirit of giving and taking is not dead. We gave away USD900 million to "take" in military hardware of questionable quality.
It looks like our neighbour down south has once again trump us with their purchase of 12 combat proven F-15 fighter jets.

F-15 Live Fire Training Session

The September 6 Israeli air raid in Syria has been a major setback for Russian arms sales. The Syrians had invested heavily in new Russian air defense systems, and the Israelis apparently brushed right by them. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russians have been trying to rehabilitate the reputation of their weapons. Throughout the Cold War, whenever Russian and Western (especially American) weapons met on the battlefield, the Russians lost. The Soviets tried to compete on price, but even "free" was not low enough for many countries. Using Soviet weapons came to be seen as a sure ticket to battlefield defeat.
In the 1990s, Russia upgraded its manufacturing capabilities, and its weapons designs. Much Western technology was imported. By the late 1990s, sales were climbing. OK, the Iraqis went down real quick in 2003, but they didn't have any of the new stuff, nor did the Taliban in 2001. Sales continued to climb, until now. Russias arms customers are asking for answers, but so far the Syrian incident is being dismissed as nothing to worry about. The Russians believe that most of their customers have little choice. That may be true of China and Iran, but India is increasingly looking West for modern arms. And so are many other smaller customers.
The "Syrian Incident" may prove to be not-so-minor after all.

THE BURMESE AND IRANIANS

Busy week - Let the cartoons do the talking.

Bush, the Burmese thinks that you sucks!!!

“Tell them to send foreign troops, UN troops,” said a young monk at the Mwe Kya Kan pagoda. “Please, fly them to our country to save our lives.”
An American in Rangoon told me yesterday about an opinion poll carried out on Burmese attitudes to US foreign policy.
“Like most people, they thought that it sucks,” he told me. “But not for the usual reason. Burmese wanted to know why George Bush hasn’t invaded their country yet.”

Ahmadinejad "In Iran there are no homosexuals in the country"

Hmmmm,

THERE IS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.

As sad as it is ,the Warong kopi is glad that Jazmin Abdul Jalil has come to terms that the body of the unidentified girl is Nurin Jazlin. She was laid to rest on Thursday and like all law abiding citizens we cry for justice.

Pointing out the differences between his missing daughter and that of a dead girl found stuffed in a sports bag, Jazimin Abdul Jalil said: “Nurin has straight hair, but this girl has rough and curly hair.
“This girl has big teeth and the scar is not there,” he said, referring to Nurin Jazlin’s small teeth and a scar on her thigh.
“She looks more like a foreigner ... like a Myanmar.
“I am Nurin’s father. I know my daughter better than anyone else. My heart is saying that the body is not my daughter’s.

Over in PutraJaya, Abdullah Badawi continues to be in a state of denial over the authenticity of the Lingam tape

Abdullah said that based on the content of the video clip and transcript that was sent to his office, only a single person’s conversation could be heard despite claims that the lawyer was talking to a senior judge.
“Can we believe or accept this?” he said.

and the Prime Minister in Waiting agrees with AAB denial

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the authenticity of the video footage had to be determined first before the Government could decide on any action.
“Modern day technology can also be abused. So before we conclude anything, let us establish whether there is basis or not,”
He said he had not seen the video footage

which sounds just about right. Najib had a lot of practice before the Lingam tape affair.

Burmaa Oyunchimeg, also known as Amy, told the Shah Alam High Court that Altantuya had shown her the photo in Hong Kong when she returned from a trip to France.
It is believed that the government official in the photograph is Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who has close ties with political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.
The latter has been charged with abetting the murder of Altantuya, 28.
Najib has previously denied that he had personally met the murdered woman and that he heard of her only from newspaper reports after Altantuya was murdered.

The denial syndrome trickles down to UPM’s vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah, when he claimed that “the seizure of the laptop computer and other items belonging Yee was not aimed at frightening the students before the campus polls”
but the “action was taken because the student had contravened the university’s rules, including keeping obscene materials and articles published by unregistered associations.”
Incidentally, the Warong kopi wonders if Nik Mustapha has been keeping to the same rules that he mentioned. Maybe he should reformat his own laptop soonest possible.

A Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) first-year student, whose handphone, laptop and other personal items were seized by university security officials, has brought his grouses to the Bar Council’s Human Rights Committee.
In the memorandum, Yee said the UPM’s special task officers’ action of entering his room and seizing his belongings last Friday, without his permission, was wrong under the law.
He said the withholding of his belongings was illegal and it was wrong for the university’s officers to threaten him during a question-and-answer session at a meeting room at UPM’s College 13 the same day.
Bernama quoted vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah as saying the seizure of the laptop computer and other items belonging Yee was not aimed at frightening the students before the campus polls.
He said the action was taken because the student had contravened the university’s rules, including keeping obscene materials and articles published by unregistered associations.

Further down the denial gutter where no light penetrates - UPM very own 'special duties unit' security supervisor Zamali “Rampas” Haji Samsi. Had there been no video taping of his illegal seizure, he would most probably replied "Mana ada?"

This infamous video depicts several Universiti Putra Malaysia students confronting university's security personnel for refusing to issue an inventory of possessions following confiscation of a student's belongings. When UPM security 'special duties unit' supervisor Zamali Haji Samsi refused, the students formed a human shield to stop him from leaving in a chauffeured car.

Behind the corpse in the reservoir, behind the ghost on the links.
Behind the lady who dances and the man who madly drinks.
Under the look of fatigue, the attack of migraine and the sigh.
There is always another story, there is more than meets the eye.
W.H.AUDEN

HAHAHA!!- HA...RD TALK FOR FLUSTERED MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER.

The Warong Kopi received this SMS yesterday. ”Watch BBC at Astro channel 93 -- 10.30pm 2nite(14 Sept 07) Malaysian foreign minister being questioned on Indian n Non-Malay rights”.
Many of you would have switched on to Astro channel 93 at 10.30pm and all you would have gotten was a whole lot of yababa over some very forgettable sporting event.
Rest assured the interview did take place and if Astro did chicken out on the replay, you can still access it via Internet.

Link: Sarah Montague talks to Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar

Watch how our Foreign Minister tries to evade answering certain questions that was put to him. He was given 30 minutes of international fame and all he could do was to deny, deny and deny.

THE COMPASS OF DEATH - LINK TO BIN LADEN LATEST VIDEO.

Hey, even if you are Osama the terrorist, you would still want to look good more so when you have the "hots" for Whitney Houston.

• The tape's most striking feature was bin Laden's physical appearance: The straggly, gray-streaked whiskers of his previous images had been replaced with a neatly trimmed beard of black or dark brown. While some analysts speculated that the beard was fake, others said it was likely that bin Laden had dyed his beard, as is customary for older men in some Muslim cultures.
  "In some respects he appears to be demonstrating his vanity," John O. Brennan, an al-Qaeda expert said.

Link to bin Laden 26min 27 second message urging Americans to convert to Islam and attributing the murder of 2,974 innocent lives on the 11th of September 2001 to the grace of ..... ("....... by 19 young men were able - by the grace of Allah the most High to change the direction of its compass").

CANDLES IN THE WIND.

Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)
Our lives are like a candle in the wind.

An uncommon but a self serving Life?
The media and the tabloid remember and mourn for Diana, Princess of Wales 10 years after her death.







Princess Diana and lover Dodi Fayed.
1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997






A common but a scrificial Life.
The poor and the hungry will remember and mourn for Teresa, Mother of Calcutta's Poor - 10 years after her death.

Mother Theresa with armless baby
August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997

MARCHING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A MOB BESIDE YOU.

The Warong Kopi suggests that the issue of the blasphemous picture of Jesus Christ be closed and not be religionized nor prolong any longer. The Christian community has made their point - that all religious sensibilities must be respected. They must forgive as they have always forgiven and move on. The community war is not against those who seek to slander and provoke but against poverty and brokenness in the soul, mind and body. However, when the community moves forward from this incident, those imbecilic individuals and those covertly sanctioned groups should not be allowed to continue to test this community.
The Warong Kopi would also like to suggest to some of the leaders of this community to remain sober in their demand of justice for they are the “salt of the world”. Making your unnecessary hard line statements would be akin to marching down the road with a mob beside you.
Do make a guess as to who leads the mob.

MCCBCHS wants action against Tamil daily for Jesus Christ pic

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism (MCCBCHS) wants the authorities to investigate a Tamil newspaper which published on its front page a picture of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette in one hand and what looks like a beer can in the other.

Its president Datuk A. Vaithilingam wants the Internal Ministry to act against those responsible for the publication of the picture.

Makkal Osai, a Tamil daily, printed the picture on yesterday with a caption quoting Jesus Christ roughly as saying "if someone repents for his mistakes, then heaven awaits them".

The daily apologised today for the publication.

DEAR SIMON CORWELL, WE HAVE A BOB DYLAN IN THE .........

Dear Simon Corwell,

It is indeed a great shame to read that you have to drop the 6 year old Connie “pure magic” Talbot from a recording career with Sony-BMG because she is “too young”.


Britain's Got Talent - Connie Talbot

The Warong Kopi would like to propose an alternative for Connie.
You should consider our present music sensation from the shores of your old British colony of Malaya – Namewee, a 24 year old who is currently residing in Taiwan.
His song writing and rapping ability has become the most talk about musical performance in Malaysia. It has even attracted far more attention than the government sponsored theatrical tribute to our First Prime Minister.
He certainly has caught the attention and imagination of Malaysia’s cabinet ministers and even our current Prime Minister has shown much interest in him when he mentioned his music during his news conference.
Taking the cue from their boss, some of the ministers would have spent sleepless night, lying awake with Namewee rapping in their head over and over again.
Such is his influence, that even those who do not have any knowledge of Mandarin hurried to view his six minute video and they sure were impressed judging from the comments that were left at the video site.
The Warong Kopi is delighted that Namewee has built for himself a global audience, now that the international mass media have given him space in their write ups.
Do pay a visit to his site and you will probably agree with me that we have a Bob Dylan in the making.

Yours Sincerely,
Warong Kopi.


Simon Cowell Makes Little Girl Cry

The ever snarky Simon Cowell is back in the headlines, this time for supposedly dashing the dreams of a six-year-old contestant on Britain's Got Talent.
Gap-toothed wunderkind Connie Talbot wowed audiences with her performance of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" on the British reality competition, leading Cowell to announce that he saw a record contract in her future.

"This girl is special," Cowell said on the show.
"I have never felt such a powerful silence in my life as when Connie sang. It was pure magic."

Cowell indicated that he was interested in signing the youngster to his Syco Music imprint on Sony BMG, even predicting that she would outsell Joss Stone within a year.
"Despite what we were initially told, Simon and his management team have changed their minds," Connie's dad, Gavin Talbot, told reporters.

BUT SPIDELY, SHOULD ALL THAT POWER BE CONCENTRATED IN THE HAND OF ONLY ONE?

"WITH GREAT POWER THERE MUST ALSO COME -- GREAT RESPONSIBILITY"

This news (see news report below) is of no surprise to the Warong Kopi. Make no mistake, laugh at no one, it happens all the time in ALL religious institutions. Few would resort to making a police report lest they make their own religion less palatable. Many would have paused and hoped that all would be resolved in the name of unity.

But why does any organisation go the way of intimidation and deception and why do some government take the same course?
It is because the power that should have been in the people’s hands gravitates towards the very selected few or even perhaps one.
Listen to what Woodrow Wilson has to say:

o “When I resist, therefore, when I as a Democrat resist the concentration of power, I am resisting the process of death because the concentration of power is what always precedes the destruction of human energy”

Let us as members be it of churches, temples or mosques stand up against any effort to have our power put in the hands of the selected few. This will only lead to pride, deception, intimidation and extremism.
Likewise, we the citizens of Negara-ku must be willing to be counted upon to oppose any concentration of power in the hands of the exclusive few in the executive branch of the government.
Such concentration of power can only lead to intimidation and corruption and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Let us resist, nay stop this shameful gravitation of power.
We the people must restore the checks and balances.
Our future, our children’s, our children’s children's future is in our hands.

o “The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of government power not to increase it.”

Police act on complaints against independent church

KUALA LUMPUR: The pastor of an independent church here is being investigated by the police following allegations of intimidation, deception and wrong teachings by several of its former followers.
Church bodies are also outraged over claims by the pastor that female members can be made more attractive and have better physique through his “miracle healings.”
The church, which allegedly has RM62.9mil in its accounts, has been under scrutiny by the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF).
The two church groups confirmed that they had received complaints from members including receiving the recording of a sermon by the pastor, which was “clearly against the proper teachings of mainstream church groups.”