THANKS BUT NO THANKS...

Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) is genuinely aimed at helping the rakyat coping themselves against the increasing cost of living. This is a one-off payment to those whose income is below RM3,000.

It is not a complusion for the rakyat to receive this payment, meaning they can choose to accept or to reject it. In short, youe either take it or leave it.

Simply its a good gesture of The Government to its rakyat and many have been grateful of the gift, especially those who felt the pinch in their pocket. There have been efforts to circumvent the regulations just to get their hands on the payment.

However, if certain rakyat want to refuse the payment, they are welcomed to do so, again, there is no compulsion.

And if they have accepted the payment but then suddenly have a change of heart then all they can do is volunteer the RM500 to charity and to whom they felt so deserving.

But to badmouth The Government over the gift is simply outrageous! That is not cool la brader!

p.s. The depicted RM500 note with serial number ZV6192611 is no longer in circulation.

WHO LET THIS DOG OUT?...

There is this black dog, which used to be part of a big house, until the owner decided that it was getting old and it was about time younger dogs in the house given prominence.

But before a decision was made on the dog it had already left the house on its on will. A few years passed by and suddenly this dog begins to bark at the big house, much to the annoyance of the owner.

The owner could not find any good reason for the dog to continue agitating them.

Quietly, the owner questions himself, like “…has I not fed him well while it was in this house? The dog was given a handsome parting gift, yes?”

The dog enjoyed a good life courtesy of the owner while he was in the big house although it has a history of walking out the house once.

“So, what is the problem?” the owner was puzzled, but was however trying not to show any alarm over the dog’s sudden behavior.

Later it was discovered that the dog was actually trying to impress its potential new owner, by barking at the previous owner’s house. The dog had forgotten the fact that it still has other siblings in the big house being taken cared off by the previous owner.

Maybe the potential new owner tells the dog “…you have to give him some problem before I give you this bone, understood?”

This black dog can be loyal but never faithful.

CERTAIN THINGS DO NOT CHANGE...

Owh! The general election is here again, yes?

Judging by the usual things certain (complacent) political parties do over and over again, one will not be wrong to think that indeed the “undilah calon…” season is really around the corner.

An obvious tell tale sign like giving out goodies with picture of a certain politician smack in the middle of a packet of rice is a dead giveaway.

It is very obvious, isn’t it? Check out the picture below.

But then again, I am so sure I have seen this package before, about 40 years ago!

When I was a small boy and growing up with in Anakbukit, Alor Setar with my late grandma in the late 1970s, I remembered her telling me one day that “…orghang dah nak undi dah ni”.

My parents’ house was at the officers’ married quarters (OMQ) area in Jenan, near Jitra. Staying in Anakbukit which is about 5 km from the state capital was said to be convenient to school at Sekolah Kebangsaan Iskandar, Alor Setar.

Then innocently I asked her “Awat Tok cakap macam tu?

She replied “..tu depa mai hantaq beraih, gula semalam…”, pointing to the goodies on the kitchen table. There were a packet of rice, a packet of sugar, two cans of sardines, a kain batik, sarong and a packet of 555 State Express cigarette (although my late grandpa who was a labourer at the nearby Lembaga PadiBeras Negara [LPN] complex was not a smoker).

If I am not mistaken, this goodies-sending tactic was aptly applied by Barisan Nasional then and parhaps to them the tactic worked like a charm.

But they are still at it now?

I mean, come on man! Don’t tell me you guys are doing the same thing over and over again?

No better idea to reach simple kampung folks huh? Hopefully this old-style campaigning is only peculiar to Kedah and not elsewhere in this internet age where simple kampung folks aren’t that easy to fool anymore?

But folks in Kedah are no longer simple and gullible and next to the kampung I used to grow up lies the Kedah version of Putrajaya -- Kompleks Pentadbiran Kerajaan Negeri Kedah, Anakbukit and Alor Setar now enjoys city status nevermind there are still "ayaq achaq" everywhere especially around Market Koboi in the middle of the city!

Years later when I used to serve Umno as a Pemuda Umno Information Chief in a certain division in Kedah and I can tell you that we younger guys disapproved of this method, lest we have no other new ideas.

It was forbidden (by the good Dr M) to be used during the double by-elections – for Anakbukit State Assembly seat and the Pendang Parliamentary seat in 2001. Both seats are in Kedah, Anakbukit being a semi-urban while Pendang rural.

But, now as we prepare for the 13th General Election, certain things do not change, no?

I think it should still be ok lah if they had a picture of “dacing” on the packet, but this guy, again?

Owh, come on man!

Sumbangan ikhlas, seriously?

ABOUT TIME LAH...

I picked this interesting article from A Voice (Another Brick In The Wall (ABITW) ...

I think its about time Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak makes some changes, retire some "tired-looking fellas" and bring in battle-hardened Umno operatives since the impending war is gonna be one helluva fight.

In fact its a fight for survival for both sides and a better prepared team will twinn. When one failed to plan, one is planning to fail, this maxim is so simple and there's no need for anyone to point out this fact to our Prime Minister.

Over the last 30 years of his political career, Najib has not lose none of his battles, within Umno and outside. Unfortunately for him, The Nemesis has similar track record -- all battles won from the time in Abim to Pemuda Umno and in Umno hierarchy until Sept 3, 1998.

I do hope The Big Boss (he is big and he's the boss) reads this following posting...

TIME TO USE THE RESHUFFLE CARD

Mingguan Malaysia news today quoted Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak telling Barisan Nasional (BN) not to fear the nationwide road tour of Dato Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim. It is meant to revive BN members' spirit, discouraged by the acquittal of Anwar's sodomy case.

Earlier in the week, he made a more alarming call on UMNO members to wake up from their slumber and face-up to the rising opposition wave. A week earlier, he was at a function that attracted a crowd of 1,000 against Anwar's nearby function of 5,000 attendance.

Najib could be too much an aristocratic gentlemen to realise that Theory Y alone is not enough. Motivation and incentives, typically money allocation in UMNO, may not necessarily awake them long enough. It is time for the Theory X i.e. to wield the stick.

In a feudel-cultured organisation like UMNO, it has to start from the top. Najib have ignored the reshuffle call many times before using all sort of excuses. The last being mid-last week.

This time he has to use this card. A major cabinet and UMNO's organisational reshuffle is desperately needed to revive confidence in his government and leadership in UMNO. Political balancing will not be ignored, but it is paramount that he shows what the Najib team is made off.

The reshuffle is the best time to showcase the "pencapaian diutamakan (performance first)" portion of his 1Malaysia slogan. As earlier as May 2010, there was a pro-UMNO bloggers campaign for a cabinet reshuffle and to revive the Pemuda UMNO.

True enough, it is proven today that Najib's current cabinet aka legacy of slumberjack Tun Dol is laden with Ministers who are either incompetent or shooting Najib's feet or both. While, the Pemuda and Puteri UMNO movements are weak and lethargic.

During that campaign, the bloggers' list was wee bit too long and politically not feasible. Some party position must be given cabinet position.

ABITW is giving our honest no hold barred selective comments on the existing cabinet members, to focus on the UMNO Ministerial list and highlighting only few component party Minister.

See below:

Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak (Prime Minister/Finance Minister)

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Deputy Prime Minister/Education)

Prime Minister's Department
Senator Dato G.Palanivel
Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (Unity and Performance Management)
He is not running in next general election. Drop him. Racial unity on the decline. Pemandu is Dato Idris Jala show.

Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz (Law and Parliament)
Well suited for this post but could undertake more senior role.

Brig-Jen (Rtd) Senator Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharum (Religious Affairs)
Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop (Economic Planning Unit)
Drop and investigate him. Too much controversies. Legacy icon of Tun Dol aka Slumberjack. Return role to Civil Servant.

Senator Dato Seri Idris Jala (Pemandu)
His policies are too neo-liberal and not in sync with PM's non Melayu liberal spirit. Look for hs speech at UiTM in a Perkasa do. PM needs to neutralise Idris (and Omar Ong)with more realistic policy thinkers or he will have problem with the Malay constituencies.

Deputies: Datuk Liew Vui Keong, Senator Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, Datuk SK Devamany, Datuk Ahmad Maslan
Drop Dr Mashitah. Potential problem.

Finance
Datuk Sri Najib Tun Razak
Time to Finance portfolio. time consuming and reduce his effectiveness. Can cut perceived baggage of Nazir. Suggested replacement Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Could allay rumour of friction between them. If not politically comfortable, suggest Husni Hanazlah.

Finance Minister II: Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah
Deputies: Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussein
Sent Awang Adek to PM Dept till corruption allegation cleared. Should attend Communication 101 class.

Education
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Replaced by Zahid Hamidi. Long shot choice replacement: Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi. The need for continuity in education policy. Teachers are sick with ever changing education policy with changes in Minister. If not considered for Finance, suggest defense.

Deputies: Datuk Wee Ka Siong, Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi

Transport
Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha
Deputies: Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri

Home
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Could adapt to new Home Ministry. Should be rotated for other closely rakyat-related Ministry.
Deputies: Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop, Datuk Jelaing Mersat

Information, Communications, Arts and Culture
Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Drop. Failed in his role. Arrogant and cocky. Suggest Ahmad Shaberi Chik. Long shot suggestion to revive Dato Shahidan Kassim for Information role in preparation for election. If it is Shahidan, suggest re-organise Ministry and split out Communiction. Consider also for UMNO Information Chief.

Deputies: Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, Senator Datuk Maglin DCruz
Suggest include young MIC MP for Hulu Selangor, P Kamalanthan

Energy, Green Technology & Water
Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy: Noriah Kasnon

Plantation Industries and Commodities
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
Deputy: Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin

Rural and Regional Development
Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal
Deputies: Datuk Hassan Malek, Datuk Joseph Entulu

Higher Education
Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin
Failed. Should be drop. Personal issue is a time bomb. Not clean image and disastrous appointments of VCs, particularly UiTM and UM.

Deputies: Dr Hou Kok Chung, Saifuddin Abdullah
Saifuddin be drop. Disastrous act of accepting memo at PWTC. Interference in police work to protect pro-opposition students breal UUCA law. Expected to lose in Temerloh.

International Trade and Industry
Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Deputies: Datuk Muhkriz Mahathir, Datuk Jacob Dungau
Mukhriz suited for promotion to replace Khaled. Has long activism record related with University student.

Science, Technology and Innovation
Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy: Datuk Fadillah Yusof

Natural Resources and Environment
Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas
Deputy: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup

Tourism
Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen
Not clean image arising from Dato Mirza controversy. MCA call.
Deputy: Dato Dr James Dawos Mamit

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries
Datuk Noh Omar
Deputies: Johari Baharum, Rohani Abdul Karim
Drop Johari Baharom. Irrelevent existence. Legacy issue. New blood needed.

Defence
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Suggested transfer to other Ministry. Communication 101 class suggested despite having doctoral degree.
Deputy: Datuk Dr Abdul Latif

Works
Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Only Tun Dol legacy cum KJ linked Minister doing fine.

Deputy: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng

Health
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy: Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shilin
Drop. Unhealthiest looking "Minister of Health." Like Khairy, need to focus her work as Ketua Puteri. Message that youth wing leaders no guarantee for Ministerial post.

Youth and Sports
Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Suggest move to Foreign Ministry or Information, Communication and Arts & Culture.
Deputies: Datuk Razali Ibrahim, Wee Jeck Seng
Suggest Razali be promoted to Youth and Sports Minister. Too inexperienced for hot seat Johor MB post.

Human Resources
Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam
Deputy: Datuk Maznah Mazlan

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri
Drop. Not effective as Minister. Do not exude perception of confidence. Tun Dol legacy issue. Not expected to survive election in Bera.
Deputy: Datuk Tan Lian Hoe

Housing and Local Government
Datuk Chor Chee Heung
Deputy: Datuk Seri Haji Lajim bin Haji Ukin

Women, Family and Community Development
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Looks likely to be dropped. Pathetic handling of NFC issue. Uncall for action to drag Wanita UMNO, UMNO and other leaders to her personal issue. Still viable, maintain Ketua Wanita post and lay low from Cabinet for few years. Suggested replacement Senator Kamelia to allay internal politics in Perak. Najib must manage factional problem in Wanita UMNO so as not to upset existing team.

Deputy: Senator Datuk Heng Seai Kie

Foreign Affairs
Datuk Anifah Aman
Deputies: Datuk Lee Chee Leong, Senator A. Kohilan Pillai

Federal Territories and Urban Well Being
Datuk Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin
Need lesson in Communication 101.
Deputy: Datuk M. Saravanan
Although Najib was reported to have denied a Cabinet reshuffle, he better do it or the RAHMAN matrix of UMNO Prime Minister ends with him. That is no two way now; it is either he reshuffle or he goes in the history book.

Not only he should reshuffle his cabinet reshuffle, he has to do sweeping change of the states's MB and CM post. Time to bring in fresh new faces and young ones. Start with changing the state liaison chiefs ...

I agree with A Voice on the need to replace some state Umno chiefs aka Mentri Besar. Perhaps Najib could start with his own state...

GREEKS BEARING GIFTS...

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, they say.

The last time i heard the line was when watching "The Rock", a movie in which Sean Connery, playing a long-time convict in an American correctional facility was overhard uttering such during a negotiation with Nicholas Cage, an FBI agent ahead of an operation to rescue several tourists caged at Alqatraz by a Vietnam War veteran Brig-Gen Francis X Hummel.

Upon the prompt translation by Cage, Connery retorted "..an educated man!" because he whispered the sentence in Latin. Unwittingly, Cage demonstrated his ability to understand and converse in the old language which is seldom heard of these days.

Perhaps the phrase was coined when people were unsure or unconvinced with the kindness of the Greeks when they came acalling and with gifts. There could be ulterior motive behind the gifts.

A few days ago, although not a Greek, someone "spilled the beans" to the MSM with gifts in his hand. Initially it was a relief of sort to some, and endless nightmare to others. He bared it all with the casual chat with the MSM on things that probably most of us have heard it before. Well, some Singaporeans knew it all along, hence the leaks sometime back.

Back to the Greeks bearing gifts, a friend told that we should not be overly excited about it. But he stopped short of saying that we should take it all with a pinch of salt. There could be more that meets the eye, he added, because in the same breath it was also mentioned by the non-Greek that "we've got a bigger fish to fry."

That leaves me wondering.

Caution, I added. And he replied "...an intelligent man!"...

The Trojan Horse.
In the epic "The War Of Thousand Years", and adapted into a movie named "Troy", the Greeks "presented" Trojans with this wooden horse, apparently mistaken (by the Trojans) as a gift to God and was ceremoniously paraded into Troy despite was cautioned by Hector.
That was the beginning of the Fall Of Troy...

A NEW DAY AND A BANG...

Jan 1, 2012 comes with a bang. Actually there were more than one bang.


BANG NO 1

As if the bangs from fireworks sprucing up the city skyline from KLCC wasn't enough, or from Dataran Merdeka where a couple of thousands waiting for a new year...there was horrendous bang out of Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in Tanjung Malim, Perak.

As soon as the fireworks subsided, 17 students were roped in for causing disturbances outside the university's entrance. They had also broke into a nearby pharmacy causing extensive damage.

I saw the video posted (presumably by the students) on the Malaysia Today website and it was clear that the students were really asking for it. Perhaps out of desperation of not being able to join other rewellers at Dataran Merdeka or the KLCC.

And tonight would be their second night with "nasi lokap" dinner...


BANG NO 2

Read the page one of Utusan Malaysia and you will know what i'm talking about. And reading more inside of the interview popular blogger RPK gave Utusan gave you the thought that that WAS the real bang ushering the New Year 2012.

It sure gave some folks headache and sleepless nights!

Something gotta give, they say...

Happy New Year 2012 folks!!