At last, I found the song

When I was very small, I still remember the first Malay tune hummed to me by my late father was a song called 'Sapu Tangan'. I never heard the original until much much later when I was in my twenties when I came across an album recorded by the late Dato' Hamzah Dolmat. Much to my delight, 'Sapu Tangan' was one of the tracks recorded by him, in typical keroncong beat. The entire album of 12 tracks was very culturalistic. It has since remain in my record collection albeit it is now a little mouldy and scratchy. Here is the version sung by the beautiful Indonesian songstress Sundari Soekotjo

The local artist that was making waves during the late fifties and early sixties was none other than the late Tan Sri P Ramlee. Although I love listening to his songs which were quite catchy, it was not until 1963 when I heard the song 'Selalu' by the Indonesian pair, Kus Bersaudara, that really got me hooked. The Kus Bersaudara was like The Everly Brothers of that time. Later on when I had my band and whenever we played at Malay weddings, this song became my staple diet.

For years (or should I say decades) I have been looking for this song and even told my friends who have businesses in Indonesia to check the local record shops for me. There were none. It was not until three days ago when I did a search on YouTube and unbelievably, someone has uploaded the song. Here it is, the first Malay/Indon song that I learned to sing from memory.

The interesting thing about Indonesian songs is that many of them are being played using major keys while songs written by Malay song writers tend to use minor keys. That is why I found it so refreshing to hear a different of chord work applied to a Malay song. In the 'Selalu' song, another interesting fact is the application of rotating chords, i.e. C/Am/F/G7, on half-bar tempo to give it that musical rhythm. Sadly, when the late President Soekarna launched his konfrontasi against Malaysia in 1963, this song together with many other Indonesian songs were removed from the air.

The PR states may do one on Najib to dampen his 'surprise' on the next GE

PAS central committee member Husam Musa today reminded Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that he does not have the sole prerogative over election dates.

This is because Pakatan Rakyat is governing four states and can also choose the date to dissolve the state assembly and call a state election, he said in his blog.

"We can announce the date of the next state election now, before Najib dissolves Parliament. The state polls need not be that early, but the announcement of the date can be," he said.

Husam (right) was responding to the premier's statement in Tumpat on Wednesday, stating that he wants the next election date to be a surprise.

This, the Kelantan exco member said, was a strategic weapon used by the ruling coalition to trap the opposition parties into contesting during a downturn, making it an unlevel playing field.

"If Najib can so confidently show that he is in command, then what can we do to make him think twice?.. How about calling a snap election in the four Pakatan-ruled states?" he asked.

Husam, who is also Salor state assemblyperson, said that by announcing the state election dates before Najib calls for a general election, the PM is left with two options.

'BN will no longer have the upper hand'

"(He) can follow us and set it on the same date or negotiate a date with us in advance in a more open manner. This will mean that the date will no longer be a riddle and (BN) will no longer have the upper hand.

"Otherwise, they can stubbornly dissolve the Parliament on a different date," he said.

Either way, he said, both outcomes will "set a precedence for election dates being set openly" instead of being "the weapon to the ruling party's advantage".

He added that state polls can be called in 2013, five years after the last election, or earlier in 2012, after four years.

Alternatively, the election date can be set for early 2012 to avoid too much politicking, he said.

"What's important is that Najib should know he is not the only one who can spring a surprise," he said defiantly.

Hitler and the FIFA World Cup

The scene may seem familiar but the dialog, well. it's something else, ha ha

Et tu, Kesh(Cash)vinder Singh

Well, another defection. You might get the response of er, again? Then it continues with so? And then who cares?

The frequent defection of the politicians is not longer surprising for the public.

Malim Nawar state assemblyperson, Keshvinder Singh has successfully put himself as the fourth Perak Pakatan Rakyat assembly to quit the DAP and turns himself independent, joing Hee Yit Fong, and former PKR assemblymen Osman Jailu and Jamaluddin Radzi as BN-friendly independents in the state assembly.

He has apparently turns himself into a joke. Angry and dismay responses overwhelm the only portals since the news of the defection broken. He had previously claimed that he was being offered RM20 million to defect, and now he was reported as saying that only BN can help to develop the Malim Nawar area.

Why is that so?

He claimed that the state and the DAP did not help him to assist his people in his area and therefore he could not do anything to help his constituency. He also said that since he is now independent, the state should allocate him budget to help his constituency. In the end, it is about the MONEY. Isn't it?

Mr Keshvinder Singh, I have a question for you. As a state assemblyperson, isn't that you have the responsibility to source out the ways to help your constituency?

If this unhealthy political scenario continues, it seems that Malaysia will not be far from being a land of disgraceful politicians.

Where is your dignity, Mr Keshvinder Singh?

[Source: The MalaysianInsider]

There is nothing much we can do since the $$$ has done all the talking for us. What really amazes me is these frogs just couldn't resist jumping into a toxic infested pool of cut throats, murderers, adulterers, corrupt practitioners, rapists and what have you just to satisfy their personal greed. To say that he just found out about the living condition of his constituents is a load of BS. What was he doing all this time and more so, as a Perakian, he must have known of the conditions long before he even became an ADUN. To Keshvinder Singh, your political career is as good as over, period!

Et Tu, Brutus

The first 'casualty' of the World Cup; and Namewee

In his anger over Ghana's 1-0 victory over Serbia in a Group D World Cup match, a teenager kicked a ball towards a window which caused shards of glass to pierce his father's right ear in Ladang Chin Teck, last night.

The father, Rosli Mat Noor, 43, almost lost his ear after one of the main veins was severed by the glass.

Recounting the incident when met at the Gua Musang Hospital, Rosli said he was watching the 10pm game with his son, Mohd Rizal, 17.

"Suddenly, Mohd Rizal kicked the ball near his feet out of frustration and shattered our living-room window where I was sitting close to," he said.

Rosli said he did not realise he was bleeding until he felt a sting on his right ear and saw a lot of blood on his fingers after touching the ear.

"I called out to my wife for help and we got our neighbours to send us to hospital where I received three stitches," he said, adding his son who never thought his action would cause any harm, had apologised.

Rosli's wife Rosnani Daud, 49, said although there was excessive bleeding, she was glad her husband's ear was not damaged.

[Source: Bernama]

Monday Humour

Here are another four comedy videos to kick off your week .....

DJ "Smiley Face" De Souza

Me, You and SDU

Unchained Melody in Hokkien

Are you lonesome tonight? [A special dedication to the seniors]