:: Hooray! ::

Sorry for anyone who felt annoyed. This is just a celebration. Please don't bakar any mercun, or BBQ any car here..

This is a Kijang:



And this is one of Negeri Sembilan's famous dish, Masak lemak cili api:


And this a place where you are not allowed to cook or eat inside:


What is the connection among the three pictures? Well, none whatsoever. This is just a post with no real objective.

Why am I doing this? It's because..


Yup, Negeri Sembilan won the Malaysia Cup. The score and scorer?

:: Hobin Jang Hobin!!! Punggah pialo weh! ::

Let's do it guys. Selamat berjaya. NS did it once, and it can be done again! Dah dua kali dah lately nih asyik runner-up je. Nak jugak bawak piala tuh balik lalu Bukit Putus, bro! Lagipun, kira hadiah untuk penyokong la.. Tahun yang ada Yamtuan Besar baru, kalau menang Malaysia Cup lagi lah best!

Jangan takut dengan mercun, kalau dia nak gocoh, kita sosah yo!

Untuk mengetahui skuad anda, sila klik gambar di bawah:


Kalau dio takbir, kito pun takbir la. Dio ado Tok Guru yang konon'e tau sapo masuk syurgo. Alah, kito dulu ado yo yang macam tuh, lagi tera pun ado.. Tak cayo? Siap ado kelua muko kek bulan lagi tuh! Tuh Abuya Ashaari tuh! Cubo tanyo oghang kek Gomotir nun..

Kalau tak, jom nyanyi ramai-ramai yo la yo..

"Hobin Jang Hobin"

Hobin Jang Hobin...3x
Daghi sawah tughun padang
Kini kau dah pandai nondang
Kali ini mesti monang
Bukan susah cukup sonang
Hobin jang hobin...3x

Sumbek gol banyak-banyak
Bia sampai jaghing kuyak
Main bia hati-hati
Jangan masok gol sendighi
Hobin jang hobin...x3

Duo satu kocik bona
Ompek satu sonyum lebar
Kalu buleh tujuh kosong
Bia dio balik molopong
Molopong.. molopong. molopong..
Hobing jang hobin...3x

Hobin jang hobin...3x
Yam Tuan sokong kito
Montoghi Bosar sokong kito
Undang Luak sokong kito
Jangan buek malu muko
Hobin jang hobin...3x

Kali ini kalau kalah
Balik kampong potong gotah
Kito jangan monggollabah
Pialo kito punggah
Punggah.. punggah...
Hobin Jang Hobin...3x

Hobin bin bin bin hobin jang hobin..............
Hobin... hobin... hobin jang hobinnnnn........
Hobin jang hobin....

(lagu boleh download kat Portal Penyokong Bolasepak Negeri Sembilan kat belah panel kanan)

:: Takbir.. ::

Hehe, this time, for the ninth by-election, BN had finally won it!

Barisan Nasional's Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad won Bagan Pinang by-election today by a big majority of 5435 votes, compared to the one recorded for the 8th March 2008 election, ie. 2333 votes.

The BN candidate got 8013 votes (ie. 3521 postal votes + 4492 normal votes), while the PAS NS's State Commissioner: Zulkefly Mohamad Omar got 2578 votes (ie. 601 postal votes + 1977 normal votes).

Other facts:
1. The total number of votes (including postal votes) is 11157 (ie. 81.65% turnout).
2. The total number of spoilt votes is 566 votes (ie. 134 postal votes + 432 normal votes).
3. The total number of AVAILABLE postal votes is 4611 (ie. Pas got 601 votes, BN got 3521 votes, 134 spoilt votes, and 355 didn't vote).
4. The number of registered voters who didn't vote is about 2507 votes (ie. by the fact that 18.35% didn't vote). This means that about 355 person didn't do the postal votes, while 2152 normal voters didn't turnout to vote.. Why, oh why?
5. Should the 2507 voters actually voted and did so for PAS, the only difference it would make is a smaller majority. The strong 8013 votes obtained by BN would still produce an end result of a majority larger than the one obtained in March 2008 by PAS. And nobody can really say that those 2507 votes wouldn't end up being for BN anyway (which would mean a greater margin of loss for PAS).
6. There were eight voting centres in the by-election: Taman Eastern, Ladang Atherton, Siliau, Ladang Bradwall, Sua Betong, Kg Bagan Pinang, Si Rusa, and Teluk Kemang.
7. Bagan Pinang is located in the Teluk Kemang parliamentary seat. There are five seats in the constituency, with BN currently holding two (Linggi and Bagan Pinang), PKR holding two (Chuah and Port Dickson), and Lukut is under DAP.
8. BN controls 21 out of the 36 states seats in the state assembly (ie. the DUN: Dewan Undangan Negeri). Out of the 15 state seats, 10 belongs to DAP, 4 belongs to PKR, and PAS has 1 seat.
9. In the last general election, for Bagan Pinang, BN got 6430 votes, while PAS has 4097 votes, and the majority was 2333 votes. Thus, there is an increase of 1583 votes for BN and a decrease of 1519 votes for PAS. So, is it plausible to say that the ones who voted for PAS ran to the BN's side this time?


That's all for now. Congrats to the winner, and to the losing side, try again next time.

All in all, congratulation to the locals for doing their duty and right as voters. You rule!



P/s: Facts and figures came from the official result of EC as published by Malaysian newspapers, and calculations using my calculator.. :)

:: degree program comparison ::

Well, for writing this article, I might get some backlash from some people. But I don't care. The reason why I'm doing this is to clear up the air should there be any misunderstanding between those students (and graduates) who is doing (or did obtained) a degree in Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) from both universities: Adelaide University, Australia, and UTM, Malaysia.

Why did I choose to compare these two universities? Because both claims to be the best (or one of the best) university for doing Engineering courses in their countries, respectively.

Some of the stereotypical issues might be:
1. student or grad oversea relax je la, belajar siket je subjek..!
2. sombong seih budak grad oversea, padahal aku belajar lagi banyak dari dia..!
3. apa kelas budak grad local uni je?

To do justice, here are what I think students (or graduates) from both countries can claim:

For UTM students:
1. Kitaorg terer, sebab amek banyak subjects!
2. Busy wo idop dolu2, banyak assignments! Dah la sampai 50% value untuk full mark! But kitaorg dapat lepas dengan berjaya! Dah la ada lecturer yang macam...!
3. Kitaorg ada banyak awek2 cun kat sini! Stok penapisan untuk dijadikan pasangan idop sangat besar!
4. Kitaorg makan best! Nak balik umah untuk makan yang lagi best pun tak la susah sangat, paling jauh pun, flight 2 jam je.
5. Dugaan ah beb, banyak hal ah kat sini, politik la, family la, nak bayar pinjaman la etc..
6. Ada ke patut kena amek subjek2 yang takde kena-mengena dengan degree nih? But kitaorg kan terer? Sumer clear beb!
7. Sini persaingan tinggi bro! Dah la kerajaan kalau boleh nak semua students all-rounded: bijak, beriman, beramal, terer sukan, etc etc. Nasib baik tak jadi robot terus.

For Adelaide Uni students:
1. Mana kau tau quality subjek siket tak sama dengan yang banyak? Giler kau, kitaorg buat assignments macam giler perfect pun, kitaorg dapat around 20% of grade je.. Buat lah se-excellent mana sekalipun..
2. Hidup mencabar weh, assignments tiap2 minggu ada. Masalahnya, kau buat ke tak assignment, datang kelas ke tidak, lecturer pedulik apa? Bukannya fail terus, cuma kitaorg ni agak terer gak ah bila exam, buat giler babeng dasat (maklumlah 80% dari exam). Attendance untuk kelas? Apa tuh? Last time kena amek rollcall masa kat skolah la. Rindu pulak zaman dulu kena paksa belajar. Ada jugak orang yang tengok2 perkembangan.
3. Walaupun subjek siket, tapi most likely syllabus sama banyak. Siap advance lagi tuh, ada projek nanotechnology. Tak caya, tengok kat bawah ni..
4. Kitaorg nak cari stok gadis Melayu terakhir susah ah. Tapi, global market bro! Global! Tapi, untuk sapa2 yang ada gf/tunang kat Malaysia, kira terer gak la. Walaupun otak dan jantung tiap2 hari rasa macam nak meletup risau, dapat juga maintain waras dan setia. Orang kata: long-distance tu macam belajar MATHS 1011 la, kacang je!
5. Alamak, makanan halal susah gak nak cari! But kalau kitaorg still pilih untuk hidup dengan makan benda2 halal je, rasa2nya, boleh claim iman kitaorg lagi kuat.. Bab balik umah jumpa parents memang susah la, mahal. Call pon kena ikut time, malam2 ada la cheap time period to call. But concert2 banyak woi sini, takde censor2 pulak tuh! (Alamak, lupa pulak aku belajar apa tadi..)
6. Dugaan? Oversea politik takde hal, cuma kuat tak kuat iman, dan mampu tak mampu tiap2 hari nak speaking je lah yang menduga. Maklumlah, takde azan, takde pencegah maksiat, uni bagi kondom free (macam gula2), nightclub depan uni, KFC yang memang tak halal berlambak, ganja/alkohol/hiburan macam jumlah masjid kat Malaysia. Banyak giler!
7. Nasib baik ah kitaorg takde kena amek subjek macam tuh. Eh eh, patutlah kitaorg maybe kurang bermoral, kurang Islamic dan kurang Asian. But takpelah, kitaorg belajar direct dari idop, 4 tahun, tiap2 hari kena duga. Practical tu beb!
8. Persaingan? Susah beb, susah! Bebudak mat saleh ni bukannya ada dapat offer utk gi belajar mana2 uni kat oversea. So, yang tahap IQ macam ala2 Einstein pun berlambak dalam kelas. (cuba try tengok dalam wikipedia, berapa ramai ex-student Adelaide Uni yang dah menang Nobel Prize!). Tuh yang masa bila aku menang debat, atau dapat report sampai lebih 90%, aku sengeh2 macam gile tuh! Rasa macam Einstein bawah tapak kaki je.. Haha..

Nota editor: sorry kalau nampak berat sebelah. Tak berniat apa2, cuma as orang yang tak duduk kat Malaysia now, tak tau apa hujah2 best budak local U..


So, apa moralnya?

Hormatilah satu sama lain.

Yang belajar atau grad oversea mungkin kurang sopan, kurang Islamic, kurang bersikap keMalaysiaan dan mungkin kurang jumlah subjeknya berbanding apa yang budak local U amek, BUT disebabkan at least 4 tahun tercampak kat tempat orang yang penuh dugaan, diaorg ni bab2 survival dalam menjaga maruah atau experience persaingan bebas tanpa tongkat kerajaan atau pun bab2 pelajaran jatuh-bangun memang mungkin ada kelebihan.

Yang belajar local U pulak, walaupun ada yang mungkin kata university takde kualiti (tak masuk top 100), atau jagoan kampung, atau tak tercabar sebab masih dalam negara, aku rasa, they deserve a lot of repect! Mana ada orang dari uni2 negara lain yang kena amek banyak2 subjek, dah la subjek yang pelik2, siap ada kokurikulum pulak tuh? So, kena respect diaorg nih, 4 tahun keje keras, kena pakai bahasa yang bukannya tiap2 hari kena praktis dan berjaya lulus walaupun diduga dengan segala apa yang berlaku. Diaorg nih, benda2 pasal negara berlaku depan mata tiap2 hari, but berjaya jugak focus. Lagipun, diaorg nih la yang membesar dalam negara, mengalami lebih banyak perkara dalam negara masa tengah bertambah kematangan diaorg.

So, for both, rendah2kan lah diri. Hormat pihak yang satu lagi. Jangan pandah rendah pihak satu lagi, tapi jangan la sampai biarkan orang kata degree uni korang tak berkualiti, atau tuduh korang sambil main2 pun boleh grad!

By the way, here is the comparison between the program for Bachelor of Engineering in both universities:


Sila klik untuk lihat dengan lebih jelas..

:: Why the need of replacing the Causeway? ::

Well, after a while (and after thinking and keeping mum about this issue for a very long time), I think it's time for me to write on why there is a dire need of replacing the Causeway.

For those who disagree, or disgruntled about this idea, no apologies are made. I am a Malaysian, and I should voice what I think is good for my country.

Maybe, some of my friends from the bordering southern country might be pissed, or think that I'm pissed with them, but afraid not, I mean no harm. But my country will always comes first.

Reasons why the Causeway should be removed/replaced:
1. To accommodate the free flow of water and ships. Better flow would mean better nautical environment.
2. By providing access there (under the replacement bridge), the ports (Pasir Gudang, and Tanjung Pelepas) would have a greater amount of trade. These ports would then be the most vital southern-most tip of the Asian mainland.
3. This would then work in tandem with the proposed double-track railway from these ports to KLIA and up north into Thailand.
4. As the double-track railway will be big enough to carry the trade items shipped as cargo, these cargoes can then be carried by it, and then be flown from KLIA, or be transported direct to mainland Asia (through Thailand).
5. Since we already have a good network of highways in the Peninsular which is joined to the major network of Asian highways, this also means that the trade items can also be transported through road.
6. Millions of jobs can the be generated as trade is increased, and this would also lead to greater development of road and rail links (and new cities) in the Eastern part of the Peninsular.
7. Another port can then be developed in either Kelantan or Terengganu, or any of the Northern states to provide better connection. Hence, leading to even a chance that ther is no need to stop at the ports down there in the south.
8. As per point #1, there can then be development of the waterfront of the most Southern state in the Peninsular. It can be a new Venice-like city, which can be a twin to the one that should be build in KL (as the city would be leased congested due to the transfer of Government facilities to Putrajaya).
9. This would also allow installation of better checkpoints or scanning facility on the new bridge. Traffic flow in the southern-most city in the Peninsular would also be improved. And better naval control and surveillance.
10. Hence, better connection of the already built or soon-to-be-built infrastructure network in the Peninsular. No need to worry about security, the bridge could be cut off if there the need arise. (Just like why the new administration capital was built on a man-made island. Think about it, by cutting off the bridge, the 'island' can still be protected by naval, air and land forces, and can still work as the beating heart of the nation).
11. It's as a show of our brave stand and authority as a proud sovereign nation with rights. We can still be good neighbour, but one which is also intelligent and brave.

There you go, those are the reasons. Some people might say that it's dumb to give full reasoning, as your enemy might see your 'secret' planning. But my idea is this: sometimes, you have to 'accidentally' leak your might and intelligence to others, so that they have a hint of what they'll be dealing with should they toy with the idea of confrontation.

All in all, I truly support the idea of replacing it.

Now, go forth, and build it!





p/s:

On a lighter note, I remembered when Malaysians were celebrating the 31st August here in Australia, they was a big banner on which everyone wrote their wishes / statements of love for the country. One fellow Singaporean even wrote 'Malaysia tanah airku' (maybe trying to pass as one of the my fellow countrymen).

I came and changed it to 'Malaysia: sumber airku'.. Partly as a joke, and partly as a reminder/lesson to the others (esp. from Malacca) that they're paying more for water, as compared to a particular foreign country.

:: Earth Hour (but non-Earth Life??) ::

Well, every time when March is around, some people would be obsessed about Earth Hour.

"Hey, let us switch off our lights for one hour during the night time", they said.

Well, good on them. Yeah, yeah, it's a show of solidarity, care for the environment, (And maybe, to be 'in' with the group'. Maybe).

Well, forgive me if the opinion that I have may hurt some people. But there might be time when I disagree. As I think, sometimes, IF IT WAS REALLY NECESSARY, of course you'll be using lights during night time. After all, it's dark, and that's what you use when it is dark.

Furthermore, why bother doing Earth Hour if you're having a "non-Earth Life"???


Just read my following advise, and see what you should actually continuously do that will help save the Earth many many many times more than a dark Earth Hour:

1. Turn/switch off unused appliances. Yes, when you are going out, or sleeping, turn off your lights, fans, TV, laptops, speakers etc. Or if you really need them to get you to sleep, put it into a timer mode to switch off within 30minutes or so. (Yup, guess what, the electricity you save by doing this is way way way more than just an hour during Earth Hour night time).

2. Reduce usage of heating and/or cooling units. For your information, heaters, and air-conditioners are the major drain for electricity. Want to know about the figures? Go figure it out yourself on Google. If you're feeling cold, put on more on thicker clothes (or drink warm stuff). If you're feeling hot, drink lots of water, and wear less, or thinner clothes. Try not to get too hooked up on these appliances. And if you really have to use them, please do put them at a reasonable target temperature. Surely, putting a target of 16'C on your air-conditioners in a 46'C hot summer will kill the Earth by having lots and lots of coals burned to generate the electricity you're consuming. After all, having your bodies to experience a shocking change of temperature (eg. 19'C in the house to 40'C outside) would actually harm your body and health.

3. Sort out your rubbish. Yes, this might sounds silly, but it helps the Earth. Un-recycled recyclable stuff like bottles or boxes harms the Earth. Firstly, these stuff can't be biodegradable, thus it leads to bigger mounts of rubbish. And that means more landfill. More lands cannot be used for planting trees needed to help control the climates. Secondly, by having these recyclable stuff thrown away, more trees need to be cut, and more plastics had to be produced to replace them. And this adds up to the whole cycle of "making recyclable stuff to be thrown away just so that new recyclable stuff need to be made again".

4. Reduce/stop your intake of hormones or illegal/excessive drugs. Do you know that when you take those stuff, and when you urinate or shit, it gets all flushed out into the reservoir for water treatment? And do you know that hormones and drugs (which contains chemical compounds) will be a major threat to the biological system in the sea and river? Yeah, yeah, us environmental engineer have to sort it out. But did you know that: systems that can truly filter out everything is very hard to achieve? And very costly too? And do you know that in the end, these waters (hopefully, treated ones) will be released back into the waterways, and can harm/kill the aquatic life and the microorganisms that helps the Earth's cycle of gases? So, help yourselves and the Earth by saying no to these stuff.

5. Use the public transportation. Yup, a single trip with a bus, or train or tram is way more Earth-friendly than each of us individually taking our own vehicles. And it saves you money too. Oh, but they (the public transportation) doesn't appear every 5 minutes.. Well, have you heard about a great invention called a watch? Or maybe about God's greatest gift to us all called a brain? But if you still loves your ride, just minimize its usage. And try to get a better alternative as fuel.

6. Reduce your garbage generation rate. Recycle. A sheet of paper got two sides, you know? And even if you print only on one side, the other side can still be used for annotating notes, scribbling, drawing, calculations (and doodle too!). Or why don't you try these: fit multiple pages of your work/lectures/whatever on a sheet of paper (as long as it is practical and readable). Less paper used, less trees cut, less harm for the Earth. Or why don't you have it in electronic format?

So, that's my 6 advices on leading and living an Earth life. So, if you do care about the Earth (truly from the heart), please do consider about these points.

And so, if you're like me, you've tried your best to do all that you can (at least these 6 points) to save the Earth, I thank you. And may you have a good day for everyday of your life.

And maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't feel guilty then when you opt to still switch on the light so that it won't be dark when you're educating people or saving the Earth during the Earth Hour.


peace!



p/s: Please, just don't be like a famous band that uses a private jet to attend a Save-the-Earth kinda concert. (And it wasn't a better fuel alternative anyway). Really ironic! And hypocritical too!

:: just now you can, now you can not ::

Hi, just wanna update on the issue of usage of the word 'Allah' for publications made by non-Muslims in Malaysia.. Taken from Utusan Malaysia Online, written by Hamden Ramli (4th Rabiul Awal 1430, 1st March 2009)..

"Dilarang Guna 'Allah' "

Oleh HAMDEN RAMLI

KOTA KINABALU 28 Feb. – Pewartaan kebenaran penggunaan kalimah Allah dalam penerbitan agama Kristian dibatalkan kerana terdapat kesilapan pada warta tersebut.

Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar berkata, perintah yang diwartakan pada 16 Februari 2009 itu juga bertentangan dengan keputusan kerajaan sebelum ini dan ia dibuat sebelum mahkamah memberikan keputusan.

Sehubungan itu katanya, kementerian membatalkan pewartaan tersebut dan memperbetulkan segera kesilapan berkenaan.

“Dalam perkara larangan penggunaan nama Allah itu, kita tidak akan mengatasi keputusan kerajaan yang tidak membenarkan penggunaan nama Allah oleh agama lain selain Islam dan kita juga tidak akan mendahului keputusan mahkamah.

“Saya mengaku berlaku kesilapan dalam pewartaan larangan penggunaan nama Allah itu dan kita akan mengambil tindakan untuk membetulkannya,” tegas beliau kepada Mingguan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Syed Hamid berkata, kesilapan tersebut berlaku di peringkat ‘penggubalan maksud arahan’.

“Apa yang diberitahu pada saya dan apa yang akhirnya berlaku adalah dua perkara yang berbeza. Oleh itu, berlaku kesilapan dan kesilapan itu membawa implikasi yang amat mendalam,” katanya.

Beliau menambah, keputusan kerajaan sangat jelas bahawa perkataan Allah tidak boleh digunakan oleh agama selain daripada Islam.

Ditanya sama ada ruang untuk membetulkan pewartaan itu, Syed Hamid berkata: “Pewartaan itu dibuat oleh saya. Oleh itu saya akan membatalkan pewartaan tersebut”.

Mengenai tindakan seterusnya, beliau berkata, kementerian akan membetulkan kesilapan tersebut dan seterusnya menunggu keputusan mahkamah.

“Kita sudah membuat keputusan sebelum ini tetapi mereka cabar dengan membawa kes itu ke mahkamah. Sebelum mahkamah buat keputusan, kita tidak akan membuat apa-apa keputusan,” katanya.

Mahkamah Tinggi (Bahagian Rayuan dan Kuasa-Kuasa Khas) semalam diberitahu bahawa penggunaan perkataan Allah dalam penerbitan berkaitan agama Kristian bukan lagi satu larangan.

Keputusan itu terkandung dalam Perintah Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (Larangan Dalam Penggunaan Perkataan Tertentu dalam Dokumen dan Penerbitan) 2009 yang baru diwartakan oleh Kementerian Dalam Negeri.

Menurut Peguam Kanan Persekutuan, Nizam Zakaria, perintah bertarikh 21 Januari lalu berkuat kuasa serta-merta setelah ia diwartakan pada 16 Februari lalu.

Perintah tersebut berbunyi : “Percetakan, penerbitan, penjualan, pengeluaran, pengedaran dan pemilikan sebarang dokumen dan penerbitan berkaitan agama Kristian yang mengandungi perkataan Allah, Kaabah, Baitullah dan Solat adalah dilarang melainkan di muka hadapan dokumen dan penerbitan itu ditulis dengan perkataan ‘Khusus Untuk Penganut Agama Kristian’.

Nizam memberitahu demikian semasa sebutan kes semakan kehakiman (undang-undang) oleh Gereja Katholik terhadap larangan penggunaan perkataan Allah dalam penerbitan Herald - The Catholic Weekly di hadapan Hakim Lau Bee Lan.

(editor's note: Em, so how is it now? Just wondering, is there any way a punishment could be made on anyone who is at fault here? I think, there might be more court cases soon..)

:: news on usage of the word 'Allah' ::

Again, I'm just being lazy. I'm quoting news from two English newspapers in Malaysia (the Star Online and the New Straits Times Online. Surprisingly, I didn't get to read this news in my usual online Malay language newspapers. Oh, maybe I did missed it somehow.. Or..?)

I'm just putting it here for readings by the public, in case your usual newspaper didn't put it up (or in case, you missed it somehow).

my suggestion?? Well, I guess, why don't the authorities, such as the Home Ministry specify and provide details in the open on how the identification of materials should be? Like a label of a certain size, fonts and color to be put at specified location on the front page to specify that the materials are only meant for Christians, etc? You know, something like the label you got on cigarette box, or like the label 'R+' for some magazines in oversea? And make the specification public, just like how we get to know how to detect a real currency when we change to the new design.

And while they're there, why don't you provide free stickers to the importers so that they put onto the other materials imported from oversea? And make a law or confiscation for anyone not following it?

And make the Islamic authorities of each state to produce, publish and distribute pamphlets to let Muslims know that articles of that nature should have the label, and it is not meant for the Muslims?

Catch the drift? Kinda like killing two birds with on stone, hey?And that is, given that if it is OK with the Constitution.. (Lawyers, any help here?)



anyway, here goes the two articles from the online newspapers..

1) from NST Online (2009/02/26, by Hamidah Atan):

Christian publications can use 'Allah' on condition

PUTRAJAYA, THURS:

Christian publications are now allowed to use the word "Allah" as long as they state that the materials are only meant for Christians.

Home Ministry Quran Publication Control and Text Division secretary Che Din Yusoh said the move which came into effect on Feb 16 followed the gazettement of the cabinet's decision in 1986.

The cabinet's decision was that Christian publications were banned from using four words - Allah, Baitullah, Kaabah and solat (prayer) - unless the publications clearly stated that the materials were only meant for Christian followers.

"We decided to gazette the move recently. However, those who failed to adhere to this condition will have their publications seized by the ministry's enforcement officers.

"We will be firm to ensure compliance. It is only fair that they adhere to it," he said.

Reverend Lawrence Andrew, the editor of the Catholic Church's The Herald, was quoted by a news portal as saying that the ministry is allowing the publications to use "Allah" to refer to God as long as they state that the material is only meant for Christians.

The controversy first broke out in late 2007 when the government banned the use of “Allah” in Christian Malay-language texts because it allegedly might confuse Muslims.

The Herald has challenged the ban in court.

The Herald publishes in English, Mandarin, Tamil and Bahasa Malaysia to cater to its multi-ethnic faithful. It has a circulation of 14,000 copies.





2) And this is from The Star Online (Published: Thursday, 26th February 2009, 6:26pm Malaysian time):

Christian publications can use the word “Allah"

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government has allowed Christian publications to use the word ``Allah'' to refer to God as long as they specify the material is not for the majority Muslims, a church official said Thursday.

The Feb 16 order issued by Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar is an apparent softening of its stand by the government, which had earlier banned the use of the word in all Christian texts.

The government argued that Allah is an Islamic word and its use by others might confuse Muslims, who might think Allah refers to their God.

The Herald, the Roman Catholic Church's main newspaper in Malaysia, has already started printing ``For Christianity'' on its cover, said its editor Rev. Lawrence Andrew.

The Herald publishes weekly in English, Mandarin, Tamil and Malay with an estimated readership of 50,000.

The ban on ``Allah'' concerns mainly the Malay edition, which is read mostly by indigenous Christian tribes in the eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak. The other three editions usually do not use ``Allah.''

Andrew said although the order ``makes things easier'' for the Herald, the paper will not drop its legal challenge against the ban. A court is due to hear arguments in the case on Friday.

The Herald is arguing that the Arabic word is a common reference for God that predates Islam and has been used for centuries as a translation in Malay.

Andrew said the new order is still a violation of religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution because Christians will not be able to use any literature that does not carry the statutory warning on the cover, including a lot of imported material.

He said most Malay-language Bibles in Malaysia are imported from Indonesia, where the language is more widely spoken.

``If this (order) is enforced, it will be difficult to possess materials ... from Indonesia, and thus practicing our religion will not be easy. This goes against ... the Constitution,'' he told The Associated Press.

Andrew said the order also prohibits the use of three other Arabic words ``solat,'' or prayer, ``Kaaba,'' a holy site in Saudi Arabia, and ``baitullah,'' or house of God without the statutory warning.

Ministry officials could not immediately be reached for comments.

Home Minister Syed Hamid's aide said he would only be available for comment Monday.-AP

:: Scanner ROSAK?!! Underwater circuit ROSAK?!! ::

Sorry la, very busy lately, so, I'll just sertakan dua keratan akhbar dari Utusan Malaysia Khamis, 1 Rabiulawal 1430, 26 Februari 2009.

I think, one of the news sends shivers to my spine.. And the other one, just make me sighed..


Pengimbas rosak di sempadan

SINTOK 25 Feb. - Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Senator T. Murugiah berkata banyak peralatan dan mesin keselamatan di beberapa pintu masuk negara didapati rosak dan ini boleh mengancam keselamatan.

Sebagai contoh, katanya, mesin pengimbas milik polis dan kastam di Bukit Kayu Hitam di sempadan Malaysia-Thailand di sini telah empat tahun tidak berfungsi.

"Kalau mesin pengimbas berfungsi, kita boleh menghalang perkara tidak baik dari berlaku," katanya kepada pemberita pada majlis dialog dengan syarikat kawalan keselamatan wilayah utara di Universiti Utara Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Sebanyak 22 syarikat kawalan keselamatan di Kedah, Perlis, Pulau Pinang dan Perak menyertai dialog sehari itu.

Beliau berkata, banyaknya senjata api yang dirampas daripada penjenayah selepas sesuatu kejadian berlaku menimbulkan persoalan tentang bagaimana senjata itu boleh terlepas masuk ke negara ini.

Beliau juga berkata, sebuah pusat latihan untuk pegawai dan pengawal keselamatan yang bertugas dengan jabatan dan agensi kerajaan akan dibina di Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Julai ini dan dijangka siap pada 2010.

Pusat itu mampu melatih 400 orang pada satu-satu masa dalam segala aspek keselamatan termasuk undang-undang, katanya.

Murugiah, yang juga Ketua Pemuda Parti Progresif Penduduk (PPP), berkata, beliau yakin Barisan Nasional mampu merampas kembali kerusi Parlimen Bukit Gantang di Perak dan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri Kedah kawasan Bukit Selambau pada pilihan raya kecil masing-masingnya pada 7 April ini.

Katanya, rakyat telah melihat kecelaruan pentadbiran kerajaan di negeri-negeri yang diperintah oleh pakatan pembangkang. - Bernama

(editor's note: eh, nih bawah bidang kuasa siapa eh? Menteri mana eh? bahaya jugak la, kan? empat tahun rosak.. ish..)




Sirkit kabel dasar laut TM rosak

KUALA LUMPUR 25 Feb. - Gangguan perkhidmatan Internet yang dialami pelanggan Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) dilaporkan berpunca daripada kerosakan sirkit pada kabel di dasar laut.

TM dalam kenyataannya di sini hari ini berkata, kabel yang menghubungkan Malaysia ke Amerika Syarikat (AS) itu berada di antara Kuantan dan Katong, Singapura serta Shantou dan Tanshui, Taiwan.

Menurut kenyataan berkenaan, ekoran kerosakan itu, Internet akan perlahan dan pelanggan yang menggunakan perkhidmatan Rangkaian Persendirian Maya (VPN) serta aplikasi perniagaan kritikal juga akan mengalami gangguan.

"Bagi mengurangkan masalah ini, beberapa laluan internet dialihkan melalui sambungan alternatif.

"Kami juga akan mengambil langkah yang perlu bagi memulihkan perkhidmatan berkenaan," katanya.

Pada masa sama, tambah kenyataan itu, kerja membaik pulih kerosakan tersebut sedang dijalankan.

Jelasnya, selepas kerja membaik pulih selesai pada 5 Mac depan, perkhidmatan dijangka kembali beroperasi seperti biasa.

Katanya, TM akan terus memaklumkan perkembangan terkini dan pelanggan boleh menghubungi TM di talian 100 dan pilih "Perkhidmatan Internet" bagi melaporkan sebarang masalah perkhidmatan yang berkaitan.

(editor's note: oh, patut la arituh, my friends kat malaysia complain Internet slow.. but tahniah jugak la kat TM, sebab cepat bertindak. hopefully it will be good as new soon)

:: gaji.. gaji.. ::

Saja je nak ambik topik favourite siket..

Duit!!

Some facts to be informed beforehand:
1. Ini diambil dari blog "Thirteen Million Plus Ringgit" guy.. Sila lawati http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/perbelanjaan-bagi-gaji-dan-elauns-pemimpin/ untuk maklumat penuh..
2. "Emolumens" nih macam diambil dari perkataan Inggeris "emolument", yang bererti: a salary, fee, or benefit from employment or office.
3. It is not in my intention to bring any bad names or reputation to anybody. This is just for common knowledge. Kalau nak compare2 gaji, atau untuk perancangan kareer masa hadapan, boleh juga..

So, here it goes..

Perbelanjaan bagi emolumens dan elauns

Kerajaan Persekutuan membelanjakan sejumlah wang sebagai emolumens and persaraan pemimpin Negara, sebagaimana yang diluluskan Parlimen. Ini termasuk elauns kepada DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong dan sekelian anggota eksekutif dan Ahli Parlimen (Dewan Rakyat dan Negara).

Elauns untuk DYMM SPB YDP Agong:

Ini adalah dibawah Undang-undang Malaysia Akta 269 (Akta Peruntukan Diraja 1982). Ini bajet tahunan untuk SPB YDP Agong. Ianya akan dibayar secara bulanan kepada SPB YDP Agong. Selain dari elaun untuk SPB YDP Agong ni, mereka masih dapat elaun DYMM Sultan dari negeri masing masing.

1. Privy Purse - RM 360,000.00 (bulanan adalah RM 30,000.00).
2. Elaun kerajaan - RM 120,000.00 (bulanan sebanyak RM 10,000.00)
3. Elaun diraja Istana Negara - RM 144,000.00 (bulanan sebanyak RM 12,000.00)

Maka, jumlah elauns sebulan SPB YDP Agong adalah sebanyak RM 52,000.00

Elauns untuk DYMM SPB Raja Permaisuri Agong:

1. Privy Purse - RM 67,200.00 (RM 5,600.00 sebulan).
2. Elaun kerajaan - RM 21,600.00 (RM 1,800.00 sebulan).

Maka, jumlah elauns sebulan SPB Raja Permaisuri Agong dapat ialah RM 7,400.00

Selain daripada tu, setiap tahun SPB YDP Agong dapat peruntukan lebih RM 53 million untuk perbelanjaan istana, sambutan tetamu dan untuk gaji pekerja dan kakitangan istana. Pecahan bajetnya adalah seperti berikut:

1. Perbelanjaan istana, keraian dan sambutan tetamu - RM 52,259,100.00

2. Gaji kakitangan istana - RM 1,004,880.00

Elauns mantan SPB YDP Agong dan SPB Raja Permaisuri Agong

Elaun untuk mantan SPB YDP Agong dan mantan Raja Permaisuri Agong (Termaktub dibawah peruntukan Undang-undang Malaysia Akta 270 (Akta Istana Negara Elaun-elaun Diraja 1982) pindaan 2006).

Dibawah akta ni elaun akan dibayar kepada mantan SPB YDP Agong dan mantan SPB Raja Permaisuri Agong setiap bulan untuk seumur hidup.

1. Elaun Diraja Istana Negara untuk mantan SPB YDP Agong - RM 15,180.00 sebulan.
2. Elaun Diraja Istana Negara untuk mantan Raja Permaisuri Agong - RM 4,500.00 sebulan.

Pencen khas untuk balu SPB YDP Agong

Ini adalah pencen untuk balu SPB YDP Agong. Bermakna kalau seorang SPB YDP Agong itu mangkat semasa dalam takhta, maka balu baginda (yang juga SPB Raja Permaisuri Agong) akan dapat pencen ini, termaktub di bawah Undang-undang Malaysia Akta 223 (Akta Pencen Khas Raja Permaisuri Agong 1979).

Inilah elauns yang dinikmati balu SPB YDP Agong yang mangkat semasa diatas takhta:

1. Pencen seumur hidup - RM 4,500.00 sebulan.
2. Kereta (cukai jalan dan bayaran pendaftaran percuma) atau wang pukal RM 250,000.00 untuk motorkar. Imbuhan tambahan RM 2,590.87 sebulan untuk pemandu dan penyelengaraan motorkar juga dinikmati.
3. Rumah Kerajaan yang akan disenggara oleh Kerajaan atau wang pukal RM 750,000.00

Elaun DYMM Sultan dan kerabat (contoh Kedah)

Elaun untuk Sultan dan kerabat bagi setiap negeri adalah dibawah peruntukan negeri masing-masing. Setiap negeri ada Enakmen Peruntukan Diraja, yang diluluskan Dewan Undang Negeri masing masing. Ini contoh untuk Kedah. Secara asasnya, ianya dipraktikan di negeri negeri lain pun lebih kurang sama juga jumlah dan nilainya.

1. Elaun Sultan - RM 52,600.00 sebulan
2. Elaun keraian Sultan - RM 15,480.00 sebulan

So, setiap bulan Sultan (contoh disini ialah Sultan Kedah) ialah sebanyak RM 68,080.00

Untuk Sultanah pula elaunnya adalah

1. Elaun Sultanah - RM 12,000.00 sebulan
2. Elaun peribadi Sultanah - RM 2,600.00 sebulan.

Jumlah elaun Sultanah ialah RM 14,600.00 sebulan

Elaun lain lain untuk kerabat ialah:

Raja Muda - RM 13,000.00
Raja Puan Muda - RM 5,200.00
Tunku Bendahara - RM 4,000.00
Isteri Tunku Bendahara - RM 1,250.00
Tunku Temenggung - RM 3,500.00
Isteri Tunku Temenggung - RM 900.00
Tunku Laksamana - RM 3,000.00
Isteri Tunku Laksamana - RM 600.00

Banyak lagi elaun untuk kerabat bergelar.

Selain daripada tu kerabat-kerabat lain pun dapat elauns juga. Contoh macam anakanda anakanda Sultan dapat elauns RM 1,000.00 sebulan and kerabat jauh sikit (bukan anak Sultan) dinamakan kerabat kategori 2 juga dapat elauns sebanyak RM 500.00 sebulan.

Gaji dan elauns untuk Perdana Menteri, Menteri dan Ahli Parlimen

Ini semua adalah dibawah Undang-undang Ahli Parlimen (Saraan) pindaan 2005

Gaji untuk Perdana Menteri, Menteri, MP adalah seperti berikut:

Perdana Menteri - RM 22,826.65 sebulan
Timbalan Perdana Menteri - RM 18,168.15 sebulan
Menteri-Menteri Kabinet - RM 14,907.20 sebulan.
Timbalan Menteri-Menteri - RM 10,847.65 sebulan
Setiausaha Parlimen - RM 7,187.40 sebulan

Ahli Dewan Negara - RM 6,508.59
Ahli Dewan Rakyat - RM 4,112.79

YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebagai Perdana Menteri dan juga Menteri Kewangan dan Menteri Keselamatan Dalam Negeri dan juga dia adalah MP, maka pendapatan sebulan beliau adalah:

= RM 22,826.65 + (RM 14,907.20 x 2) + RM 4,112.79

= RM 56,753.84 sebulan

(editor's note: yang nih aku confuse siket, sebab all MPs is a member of Dewan Rakyat. And Dewan Negara, which is higher, and I'm pretty sure that a Prime Minister is a member of Dewan Negara.. And tak pasti la whether one is allowed to take gaji only for the highest post only or not. So, I have a revised calculation below)

= RM 22,826.65 + (RM 14,907.20 x 2) + RM 4,112.79 + RM 6,508.59

= RM 63,262.43 sebulan

(editor's note: if you want to know who is the current member of the two Dewans, try and visit these links. If they're not updated, it's not my fault, blame someone else. Links:

Dewan Negara: http://www.parlimen.gov.my/seatingDN.htm

Dewan Rakyat: http://www.parlimen.gov.my/seating.htm

now you know who is seating where, right?)

Formula untuk pengiraan elauns mantan Ahli Parlimen.

Pencen:
1/144 x tempoh perkhidmatan (bulan) x Gaji

Minimum pencen dapat ialah separuh dari gaji MP. Bermakna kalau jadi MP satu penggal pun akan dapat pencen paling sikit pun RM 2,056.40 . Lagi lama berkhidmat sebagai MP, lagi banyak pencen dia akan dapat.

Gratuiti:
1/48 x Gaji x 12 x tempoh perkhidmatan (bulan)

Ini tidak termasuk elaun perjalanan, penginapan dan peribadi yang boleh dipinta sekiranya Ahli Parlimen menghadiri penggal sessi persidangan Dewan Rakyat atau Dewan Negara.

:: imej-imej raya '08 ::

Gambar my 5th anak saudara. Sungguh chomel dan nampak yummy, umpama ayam goreng.. Hehe, sorry eh, Kak Ju..

Taken: sebelum kenduri after raya..

Gambar raya with my parents di kampungku, Pekan Tg Ipoh, NS.

Taken: by Paksu, after solat sunat Aidil Fitri..

Gambar my parents, after solat sunat Aidil Fitri.

Taken: by Paksu, at rumah Opah

Gambar sebelum hari raya.

Taken: using my MotoKrzr K3

Gambar sebelum hari raya.

Taken: with Asyikin's mobile phone.

:: compare ::

My teachers and lecturers used to tell me, "When you compare two or more stuff, you should compare it wisely.. compare an apple to another apple.. don't compare an apple with an orange"..

Ah, now I know what those people were saying..

So, those who didn't compare wisely is what eh?

Not wise ka?

So, here we go.. comparison of some countries.. the oil price in their country, against their PPP and whether they produce oil or not..

And to be 'nice' to people who compared-apples-with-oranges, in this table, even for those countries that still import oil even though they produce oil, I had just left them still with a tick..

:: oil.. minyak.. ::

Here's something that made me laugh. Credit to saudara Johnny Ong.. (http://johnny-ong.blogspot.com)

Anyway, I've found a website which posted a song about the petrol price. From what was written, it was said that the song was sung by a Malaysian band: Pretty Ugly, and the title was: Kelab Jiwa Muzik.

The lyric was nice and 'deep'. It cuts deep, very very deep. Look at the colors used in the song. Very meaningful. And the parts in the song about 'yuran', and 'yang penting tahu nyanyi Negaraku' were the ones that made me smile and nod in agreement..




Song / Lagu : Kelab Jiwa Muzik - Pretty Ugly

Lyrics / Lirik Kelab Jiwa Muzik :


Naik minyak dengar berita
Sana-sini dah huru-hara
Ramai hero di tepi jalan
Kena sembur lari lintang-pukang

c/o:

Apakah dikau buta?
Kita sedang sengsara
Aku bukan mengkritik
Mari sertai Kelab Jiwa Muzik

Jalan gelap hitam berkilat
Itu tanda nak kaya-raya raya
Hijau, merah nyalakan api
Biru biro gelombang mikro

c/o:

Apakah dikau buta?
Kita sedang sengsara
Aku bukan mengkritik
Mari sertai Kelab Jiwa Muzik
Apakah dikau buta?
Kita makin berpecah
Ini bukan politik
Mari sertai Kelab Jiwa Muzik

bridge :
Yuran percuma
Tiada janji manis
Tak perlu payung
Hujan satu meja
Yang penting tahu
Nyanyi satu lagu
Negaraku Malaysia

:: fuel hike, kenaikan minyak ::

People say, pictures speak louder than words.. please click on the pictures below to see how we can save (or how we are expected to save) in the event of an increase of oil price in Malaysia starting on 5th June 2008.

As someone (a minister, was it?) had said that we will get subsidized only for what we NEED and not what we WANT, the question then is:
WHAT IS DEFINED AS THE AMOUNT OF PETROL THAT WE REALLY REALLY NEED TO USE??

So, this calculations were done in order to find that out (or at least, suggest us) on what 'NEED' had been defined for us, Malaysians.

So, for these calculations, it was assumed that a rebate of RM625.00 would be paid to us (users of vehicles below 2000cc) in postal order yearly once we re-new our road tax.

Let us see how much that can help.. Feel free to forward it to let other Malaysians judge with their brain, calculators and wallets..

:: Proud to be Malaysian ::

em, baru terjumpa balik lirik nih.. penyanyi asal, kumpulan The Official. Lirik nih diubahsuai sikit untuk tujuan bahasa. Saya pelik, kenapa tidak ada walau seorang pun penyanyi aliran utama yang mahu merakamkan aau menyanyikan kembali lagu nih? Saya rasa, lagu nih jauh lebih patriotik dan bersemangat.. Jika bagi Indonesia, ada kumpulan popular seperti Cokelat yang merakamkan lagu seperti "Bendera", mengapa tidak kita?

em, just found this lyric. it was originally sung by the band The Official. The lyric of the song had been 'modified' a bit so as to make the grammar proper. I wonder why no new / other mainstream Malaysian artists had even tried to re-sing and re-make the song? I think it is so patriotic.. If the Indonesians can have bands like Cokelat to make a song titled "Bendera", why can't us?

We are proud to be Malaysians
We belong to you
We will fight for you

We are proud to be Malaysians
We belong to you
We will fight for you

We're standing proud on our land
We're always ready for you, we’ll never run
We’re happy living in here, we're never scared we never fear
we’ll die for you

You’re the number one
You’re a home for everyone
You’ve got so many things we always want

You’re number one, you bring our life to a shine
and you.. and you never let us down

We are proud to be Malaysians
We belong to you
We will fight for you

We are proud to be Malaysians
We belong to you
We will fight for you

Malaysia, you are so great
there so much fun you serve for me and my mates

Malaysia, united as one, where I was growing up free
where I was born

We are proud to be Malaysians
We belong to you
We will fight for you

:: permulaan baru ::

Di sini bermulanya kisah baru..
This is where a new story starts..

Dan sebagai penanda bermula kisah baru, biarlah bermula dengan suatu lirik kegemaran..
And to mark a new beginning, let us start with one of my favorite lyric..

"Anak kecil main api"

Anak kecil main api
Terbakar hatinya yang sepi
Airmata darah bercampur keringat
Bumi dipijak milik orang

Nenek moyang kaya raya
Tergadai seluruh harta benda
Akibat sengketa sesama kita
Cinta lenyap di arus zaman

Indahnya bumi kita ini
Warisan berkurun lamanya
Hasil mengalir ke tangan yang lain
Pribumi merintih sendiri

Masa depan sungguh kelam
Kan lenyap peristiwa semalam
Tertutup hati terkunci mati
Maruah peribadi dah hilang

Kini kita cuma tinggal kuasa
Yang akan menentukan bangsa
Bersatulah hati bersama berbakti
Pulih kembali harga diri

Kita sudah tiada masa
Majulah dengan Maha Perkasa
Janganlah terlalai teruskan usaha
Melayu kan gagah di Nusantara