Archive for January 15, 2008

Songkok

January 15, 2008 at 9:23 pm · Filed under songkok ·Tagged , ,

This is a blog post by Mahaguru58. He has indicated the post cannot be copied but he does not mind if the post is linked. So here it goes.

Indian ladies put on “pottu” - a round dot,  (normally a stick-on now) on their forehead. It is beautiful and if it matches the saree worn, in terms of colour it enhances their look. Again Indian ladies also use “vibuti” (holy ash) as a religious gesture to protect them. One is cosmetic and the other is religion. Don’t confuse these two. They are useful only when they are used for the purpose meant for.

So is the case of the songkok. It cannot be divorced from religion and let it remain so. If it is cosmetic and you look like a Maharaja or a man of means, be it, anybody would want to wear one to enhance their looks or standing.

The next point is compulsion a taboo word for most of us.

So when I read Mahaguru58 I felt he has got the wrong end of the tail. Argue for all you are worth, but don’t let it be tainted with religion and doing so bring in various other factors to justify your argument. Mahaguru58 is another blogger like me, and much as I hate, I always want supportive comments. I am not here to cross swords, I know nothing of using swords.

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Najib Lied?

January 15, 2008 at 5:04 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged , , , ,

This is from Jeff Ooi’s Screenshots

The same Najib 2 years down the road:
Where’s the RM4.4b fuel subsidy ’saved’ for public transport trust fund?

Two years ago, we asked DPM Najib Razak to watch his back for what he said on record. Here’s a blast of the past from the Screenshots archive, March 12, 2006:

Fuel_Nobailouts_060312

SUNDAY STAR, March 12, 2006

Fuel_PubTransport_060312

Twenty-two months down the road, on January 14, 2008, the same Najib said: “A comprehensive and integrated plan will be drawn up by the Government to solve Kuala Lumpur’s traffic woes.”

For that purpose, the “Empowering the Public Transportation System-Traffic System in Kuala Lumpur Hotspots” retreat was organised for certain people in Serdang yesterday, and that the Government would consider suggestions made during the retreat before drawing up the plan.

Najib, who also chairs the Cabinet committee on Public Transportation, said this included expanding LRT services, improving the quality of commuter trains and increasing the number of buses and their stops.

He said a holistic solution was needed to solve traffic problems in the city for the next two to three decades.

That’s God-speed for you, KL folks.

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Education Malaysia

January 15, 2008 at 3:56 pm · Filed under Education Malaysia ·Tagged , ,

There are 3 letters in the letters column in today’s Star. All relate to educational matters.

Letter 1

Letter 2

Letter 3

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Is Hishamuddin, the Education Minister, going to investigate these complaints and tell the people what is wrong and the remedial measures or is semua-nya OK.

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Never buy a drink when you are drunk

January 15, 2008 at 11:33 am · Filed under joke ·Tagged ,

Give the ballerina a drink

A large woman, wearing a sleeveless sun dress, walked into a bar

A large woman, wearing a sleeveless sun dress, walked into a bar. She raised her right arm, revealing a huge, hairy armpit as she pointed to all the people sitting at the bar and asked, “What man here will buy a lady a drink?”
The bar went silent as the patrons tried to ignore her. But down at the end of the bar, an owly-eyed drunk slammed his hand down on the counter and bellowed; “Give the ballerina a drink!”
The bartender poured the drink and the woman chugged it down. She turned to the patrons and again pointed around at all of them, revealing the same hairy armpit, and asked; “What man here will buy a lady a drink?”
Once again, the same little drunk slapped his money down on the bar and said: “Give the ballerina another drink!”
The bartender approached the little drunk and said; “I say, old chap, it’s your business if you want to buy the lady a drink, but why do you keep calling her the ballerina?”
The drunk replied; “Any woman who can lift her leg that high has to be a ballerina!”

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The Pot Calling The Kettle Black

January 15, 2008 at 10:15 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged , , , ,

YOU DECIDE.

The Star Newspaper has this report.

Tuesday January 15, 2008

Be honest, politicians told

SHAH ALAM: Politicians saddled with debts or mixed up in immoral activities should not even think of offering themselves as candidates for the next general election.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said individuals deep in debt or those who have dodged income tax should not offer themselves as candidates as their representation would be a liability to the Barisan Nasional.

“Selangor Barisan has conducted its own intelligence gathering and we have found that there are not many pertinent issues relating to the government.

“So, opposition parties will harp on trivial issues and will pounce on a candidate’s character or wrongdoings,” he said.

“Character assassination will be the opposition’s method to defeat a candidate. Knowing this, we want candidates to be frank and withdraw if they have problems and not put Barisan in jeopardy.

“Based on our indicators, we are confident of taking back the two DAP seats – Sungai Pinang and Sekinchan,” he said.

He said Barisan lost both seats in the last election “because of the candidates and not due to administration of the area”.

“For PJ Utara, we are working hard to explain various issues to the people,” he said.

Dr Khir also said that he would explain economic issues to the business community concerned about rising inflation and increases in the prices of goods.

“Some things the Government can control but inflation has a different economic dimension as it is influenced by world markets.

“On the whole, the Government has done much better as we are seeing an inflow of foreign investments with factories being built in Selangor and the creation of more job opportunities,” he said.

Dr Khir, who earlier addressed 800 civil servants at the State Secretariat grounds in a morning meeting here, called on staff members to work hard and provide efficient service.

He said that, overall, he was satisfied with staff performance but reiterated that there was room for improvement.

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Partial Segregation

January 15, 2008 at 9:52 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged ,

The Star says:-

Hillcrest HM denies segregation

KUALA LUMPUR: SMK Hillcrest in Gombak has never practised segregation, said principal Nik Maryam Idris.

“Our students are not segregated in class. But after assembly and during recess, they are asked to use separate staircases,” she said at the school.

This, she added, had been practised since the school opened in 1991.

“Boys can be a bit rough sometimes and we just want to ensure the safety of the female students,” she said.

She said students were not punished if they used the wrong staircase.

“Although they don’t have to use separate staircases at other times, many of the students continue to do so,” she added.

The school has 2,217 students in Forms One to Five, she said, adding that it won the award for best academic programme among Gombak schools in 2006 and 2007.

SMK Hillcrest parent-teacher association (PTA) president Mohamed Isa Hamzah confirmed that the issue of segregation had never been brought up at PTA meetings.

“The PTA wouldn’t agree to something like this. Three of my children have been educated at the school. My youngest child, who is now at the school, has also never complained about segregation,” he said.

It was reported on Sunday that male and female students had to sit separately in class and in the canteen.

The Education Ministry’s Schools Division director Zulkifly Mohd Wazir said he had not received any complaint about the school.

Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom said last week that the ministry did not have a policy of segregating boys and girls.

It is very simple, there is partial segregation. After assembly and during recess students use separate staircases. The reason, boys are rough and the safety of the girls is important.

What a load of rubbish. In the first place, where did the Principal Nik Maryam Idris learn part segregation of this nature solves the problem. Maybe she can quote authorities so that other Principals follow. Boys are undisciplined, what has she done to correct this. What has happened to the Disciplinary Teacher, or is there none in this school. How many stairs are there in the school, and for a start can some teachers stand near the stairs to ensure boys behave well. Or are the teachers intimated by the boys.

PTA President is a gem. He reminds me of the 3 monkeys not seeing, hearing or looking. This Presidency is a responsible delegation and if he is waiting for input just from his children to know what is happening at the school, it is good he reconsider his position and allow others to be the President. Obviously, the work load is heavy.

There is no smoke without fire. Segregation is done it was reported in the classroom and canteen. Somebody is dousing the fire.

Education Director-general may have to issue a statement that partial segregation is not allowed. Then we have 1/2, 3/4, 3.8 segregation. His statement must cover all such types of segregation.

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