Malacca Sultanate began in 1278, claims researchers

The Malacca Malay Sultanate began in 1278 and not in the 1400s, as discovered by a research team appointed by the Melaka government.

Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam said the year 1278 was chosen based or the Raja Bongsu version of the Malay Annals or the "Sulalatus al-Salatin".

Following the discovery, the research committee, chaired by Melaka Islamic University College vice-chancellor Prof Mohd Yusoff Hashim, agreed that Melaka began as a political entity, known as the Melaka Malay Sultanate, in 1278," he added.

He said the findings of the research was tabled to the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Malacca Mohd Khalil Yaakob at his office in Ayer Keroh here yesterday.

The research, headed by Prof Abdullah Zakaria Ghazali from the Department of History, Universiti Malaya, started in June last year.

Mohd Ali said a seminar would be held this year to further discuss the matter.

[Bernama]

If the claim was true, it is strange that Marco Polo, who passed through the Straits of Malacca in 1292, on his way home from China, makes no mention of it. It is scarcely possible that Marco Polo, who described the North-East coast of Sumatra in great detail, would have failed to mention Malacca, if it had existed at the time. We may therefore conclude that Malacca was not founded until later.

Other travelers passed the same way. Ibn Batuta, an Arab who lived during the 14th century, journeyed to far-off places, such as China and India and the south of Spain, and left us valuable accounts of his travels. Ibn Batuta went to China in 1345, but makes no mention of Malacca. Twenty years later, a Javanese Buddhist priest, Prapanca, wrote a poem, the Nagarakertagama in which he describes the exploits of Kertanagara, the ruler of East Java. Prapanca lists the names of places on the East Coast of Sumatra and in the Malay Peninsula which were conquered by Kertanagara, but he does not mention Malacca. If Malacca had existed during this period, either Ibn Batuta or Prapanca would surely have made some reference to it.

However, one important fact stood out amongst all, and that is, Malacca was founded by a Sri Vijayan prince, Parameswara.

Battle cries from Pakatan

Judging from the sentiments of the folk in Hulu Selangor, it would appear that Najib may find it hard to re-gain the seat from Pakatan and what's with the current association with PERKASA and the DPM's remarks about the small fries in the inter-faith panel.

Umno's alleged role in influencing the MIC Hulu Selangor candidacy has became campaign fodder as Pakatan Rakyat pulled out its big guns the night before nomination day.

Speaking at a DAP dinner attended by 1,000 in Kuala Kubu Bharu last night, Pakatan big shots declared MIC irrelevant for allowing Umno dictate its actions.

Among those in the assault squad were DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, whose arrival was welcomed with rapturous cheers, forcing PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim to hit the pause button as he was delivering his speech.

"The MIC candidacy issue shows us that Umno's hegemony is growing," he said.

Anwar also took a swing at MIC which he said was practically invisible in the BN, thanks to its yes-man attitude.

"MIC and MCA are only Umno's coolies," he said.

Endearing himself to the audience, the skilled orator spoke in colloquial Malay, and used Tamil and Mandarin phrases to rile up the crowd.

"Get out of here, MIC!" Anwar (right) said in Tamil, drawing laughter from the audience.

MIC turned into dart board

He also said now is the time for the people of Hulu Selangor to cash in on BN's riches.

Take the money and the goodies they offer, he said, but vote for PKR.

"You should be smart and let them be the fools," he said.

Anwar also echoed Zaid who in his speech appealed to the mainly Chinese crowd by reminding them of Pakatan Rakyat's multiracial approach.

"The problems of the Chinese are my problems. The problems of the Malays are also my problems.

"After 52 years BN no longer knows the meaning of loss, of the struggles of the rakyat and of friendship," he said in his five-minute speech.

He said that MIC cannot make the same promise as it "has to listen to Umno", before leaving for another event in Hulu Bernam.

Even though Zaid is perceived to be a liberal leader who will appeal to the non-Malays, the response from tonight's crowd may suggest otherwise.

While he thrashed BN's ethnic-based power-sharing formula, it appeared that he still needed Pakatan's component parties to excite the Chinese constituents last night.

Others who spoke included DAP secretary general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng Selangor excos Teresa Kok and Ean Yong and PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Madd Isa.

[Source: Malaysiakini]

Quick Check for Alzheimer's

The following was developed as a mental age assessment by the School of Psychiatry at Harvard University . Take your time and see if you can read each line aloud without a mistake. The average person over 40 years of age cannot do it!

1. This is this cat.
2. This is is cat.
3. This is how cat.
4. This is to cat.
5. This is keep cat.
6. This is an cat.
7. This is old cat.
8. This is fart cat.
9. This is busy cat..
10. This is for cat.
11. This is forty cat.
12. This is seconds cat.

Now go back and read the third word in each line from the top down and I betcha' you cannot resist passing it on.

The calm before the storm in Hulu Selangor

Take a good look at the video. In a matter of days, this peaceful and idyllic town will be turned upside down by the large crowd of supporters in their hundreds if not thousands from BN and PR. The carnival will soon start with buntings, banners and party flags fluttering at all corners of the town. Room rates at hotels will soar upwards and so will food prices. Oh, what the heck, it's not often we get the Yang Berhormats visiting our town so might as well make hay while the sun shine.

Will the real Rosmah stand up?

At the first glance of the photo which appeared in Patrick's blog, I asked myself what has happened to the fat ugly side of Rosmah? It appears she must have gone for aerobic classes at least 3 times a day to look that slim, on juices every morning, no more roti canai, teh tarik or nasi lemak, appointed a new hair dresser and beautician, to make her look so pretty. Then on closer look, darn it, it is all touched up using some computer software. Wow ... ain't technology wonderful? Now I wonder whether Najib will have a pendulum swing, from Rosmah to the one in the photo? Wakakaka .....

The above is a Bernama photo of Rosmah Mansur on her way to theFaces of 1Malaysia festival at the National Geographic Society Building in Washington Sunday. Why can't they show the truth for once.

Monday Humour

Women Are Subtle By Nature

A woman went up to the bar in a quiet rural pub...

She gestured alluringly to the bartender who approached her immediately.
She seductively signaled that he should bring his face closer to hers.
As he did, she gently caressed his full beard.

"Are you the manager?" she asked, softly stroking his face with both
hands. "Actually, no," he replied.

"Can you get him for me? I need to speak to him," she said, running her
Hands beyond his beard and into his hair.

"I'm afraid I can't," breathed the bartender. "Is there anything I can
do?"

"Yes.. I need for you to give him a message," she continued, running her
Forefinger across the bartender's lip and slyly popping a couple of her
fingers into his mouth and allowing him to suck them gently.

"What should I tell him?" the bartender managed to say.

"Tell him," she whispered, "There's no toilet paper, hand soap, or paper towels in the ladies room."

------------------------------------------------------------------

A man and his wife were getting a divorce at a local court, but the custody of their children posed a problem.

The mother jumped to her feet and protested to the judge that since she had brought the children into this world, she should retain custody of them.

The man also wanted custody of his children, so the judge asked for his side of the story.

After a long moment of silence, the man rose from his chair and replied:
Your Honour, when I put a dollar into a vending machine, and a Pepsi comes out, does the Pepsi belong to me or to the machine?'

Don't laugh, he won!

____________________________________________

'I am your Doctor. Sorry to inform you that you have a brain problem.
Your brain is in 2 parts... Left and right.
The left part has nothing right in it, and the right has nothing left in it'
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A woman arrived at the Gates of Heaven. While she was waiting for Saint Peter to greet her, she peeked through the gates... She saw a beautiful banquet table. Sitting all around were her parents and all the other people she had loved and who had died before her.

They saw her and began calling greetings to her,
"Hello - How are you! We've been waiting for you! Good to see you."

When Saint Peter came by, the woman said to him,
"This is such a wonderful place! How do I get in?"

"You have to spell a word," Saint Peter told her.
"Which word?" the woman asked.

"Love."

The woman correctly spelled 'Love',and Saint Peter welcomed her into Heaven.

About a year later, Saint Peter came to the woman and asked her to watch the Gates of Heaven for him that day.

While the woman was guarding the Gates of Heaven, her husband arrived.

I'm surprised to see you," the woman said. "How have you been?"

"Oh, I've been doing pretty well since you died," her husband told her. " I married the beautiful young nurse who took care of you while you were ill. And then I won the multi-state lottery. I sold the little house you and I lived in and bought a huge mansion. And my wife and I traveled all around the world. We were on vacation in Cancun and I went water skiing today.
I fell and hit my head, and here I am.. What a bummer! How do I get in?"

"You have to spell a word," the woman told him.

"Which word?" her husband asked.

" Czechoslovakia .."

Moral of the story:
Never make a woman angry...
There will be Hell to pay later!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a Chicago Hospital , a gentleman had made several attempts to get into the men's restroom, but it had always been occupied.

.
A nurse noticed his predicament.

.
Sir, she said "You may use the ladies room if you promise not to touch any of the buttons on the wall."

.
He did what he needed to, and as he sat there he noticed the buttons he had promised not to touch. Each button was identified by letters: WW, WA, PP and a red one labeled ATR.

.
Who would know if he touched them?

.
He couldn't resist... He pushed WW. Warm water was sprayed gently upon his bottom.
What a nice feeling, he thought. Men's restrooms don't have nice things like this.

.
Anticipating greater pleasure, he pushed the WA button. Warm air replaced the warm water, gently drying his underside.
.
When this stopped, he pushed the PP button. A large powder puff caressed his bottom adding a fragile scent of spring flower to this unbelievable pleasure. The ladies restroom was more than a restroom, it is tender loving pleasure.
.
When the powder puff completed its pleasure, he couldn't wait to push the ATR button which he knew would be supreme ecstasy.
.
Next thing he knew he opened his eyes, he was in a hospital bed, and a nurse was staring down at him.
.
"What happened?" he exclaimed. "The last thing I remember was pushing the ATR button."
.
"The button ATR is an Automatic Tampon Remover. Your penis is under your pillow."

MEN NEVER LISTEN!! Wakakaka ...

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Haris Ibrahim on Najib's first year as the prime minister of Malaysia

Haris Ibrahim is a lawyer, blogger, social activist and coordinator of
the Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia project. Here he gives his assessment on Najib's first year as prime minister on PopTeeVee.