I give up!

I have been playing the guitar for 49 years (and still do), but after watching this video, I think it's time I hang it up for good.

Meet Wong Nai Chee, the new political secretary to Najib

Former Kota Melaka MP Wong Nai Chee has confirmed he has been appointed as political secretary to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. Speaking to Sin Chew Daily, the MCA youth central committee member said his appointment will be effective from December. Wong said this is a new challenge for him and that he will take the chance to serve the country. He also said he will help to convey the concerns of the Chinese community to the prime minister without hiding anything or reporting only the good news. "We must stick to the principle of society fairness. I will disappoint the prime minister if I passed the wrong messages to him," he said. However, he also noted that many Chinese associations and NGOs can play the role to communicate with the prime minister directly. Asked if his political background would give the impression that MCA had placed him into the position for purely political purposes, Wong said such a perception could not be avoided, but stressed that his responsibility was to serve the country. Wong said also that MCA had not give him any "special mission", as his duty would be up to the prime minister. The 42-year old lawyer joined MCA briefly before the 2004 general election, defeating then-DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock. He was deemed a rising star in MCA until his loss to DAP’s Sim Tong Him in the 2008 general election. He resigned as MCA central committee member in the fallout following the party crisis of 2010.

[Source: Mkini]

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I am quite perplexed when Wong said that he would "help to convey the concerns of the Chinese community to the prime minister without hiding anything or reporting only the good news". As an MCA member, what is it he could do that MCA has not already done? Are we saying by being appointed as the political secretary, he becomes more powerful than MCA itself. Or for that matter, Chua Soi Lek? After Matthias Chang, this will be just another flop, all show but no substance, and I don't believe the Chinese are going to buy this sandiwara again. In fact, Najib does not need to waste money creating such a post. All he needs to do is to read up the many comments made by readers in the various news portals and he would already got a fair idea of what the community wants. So is Wong to going convey concerns such as:

1. Quota for Chinese students into public universities?

2. Meritocracy?

3. Serving in the civil service and the military with equal opportunities for promotions.

4. Will we ever get to see more Chinese judges on the bench?

5. Will we ever get to stop subsidising bumiputras on property purchases?

6. Will we (the Chinese Christian community) be allowed to use the word "Allah"?

7. Will we be given more space to build churches and temples?

8. Many Chinese parents would like to send their children to schools that are fully taught in English [not necessarily Mandarin]. Will this be addressed?

In other words, can UMNO practise FAIRNESS?

In fact, Najib could have appointed someone "neutral" to the post, such as a person from either the Chinese trade associations, education body or even the clan associations. This would have rendered a distinct credibility to the appointment. Wong Nai Chee, an MCA member, naaaaah!

Short of the above expressed concerns, it would be better for Najib not to waste anymore of the tax payer's money. Enough is enough.

Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 tabled

So the Peaceful Assembly Bill was tabled this morning. Somehow or other, there are gray areas which I believe UMNO will exploit to make any assembly unworkable. Among the main points of the proposed law are, with my views highlighted in bold, within parenthesis:

• 30 days' advance notice for assemblies, except for those in designated areas as defined by the home minister. [Even if a 30-day notice is given, there is no guarantee that it will be approved. Furthermore, where are the designated areas? Will these areas be those not conducive to hold any assembly? My guess is that Petaling Street, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Pudu and Jalan Bukit Bintang will not be those designated areas].
• After notification, the assemblies can proceed, unless there are objections from the police [which in most cases there will be. This is so subjective]
• No street protests are allowed [Refer to my remarks under the first bullet point].
• No protests in or anywhere in a 50-metre buffer zone around prohibited areas defined in a list, which includes hospitals, schools and places of worship [If no street protests are allowed, then this item is deemed irrelevant. But why this prohibition when MCA was so sure that no tear gas or chemical laced water shot into the Tong Shin Hospital? Aha, so it was a lie after all].
• Section 8 allows a police officer 'to take such measures he/she deems necessary' to ensure compliance [Doesn't this sound arbitrary?]
• Section 9(5) allows the police to fine organisers up to RM10,000 if no advance notice of a planned assembly is given to the police [For not giving notice and UMNO wants to impose a fine of RM10k on the organisers? Right now the practice is "no permit, no assembly". Even with such a prohibition, organisers will still proceed and will be all too willing to pay the fine, if the cause is a noble cause to take up, like clean elections].
• Section 20(1)(c) allows police to arrest anyone who brings, allows to come or recruits children for an assembly [another arbitrary move].
• Section 21(3) allows the police to fine those arrested up to RM20,000 [So this is one way to deter participation, is it?]
• Those under 21 years of age are not allowed to organise assemblies [Why not? People below this age group are already in the know of what is happening around them, socially and politically, especially with the information flow coming from the internet. This part of the bill is so condescending.] and
• Children under 15 are not allowed to take part in assemblies, except in cultural or religious events such as funeral corteges or events approved by the home minister.

So there we have it. What UMNO is telling us is that NO ASSEMBLY OR DEMONSTRATION IS ALLOWED, period! I guess the bill lives up to its name, Peaceful Assembly Bill, because there will be no assembly at all. My gut feeling also tells me that the GE13 will be held before the PSC could come out with their recommendations. Since Bersih has already warned UMNO that should they [UMNO] conduct the GE before the PSC's work is completed, there will be another rally, maybe on a larger scale. As UMNO is not prepared to take any chances, this bill is meant to preemptively take the wind out of Bersih.

Hasan Ali, the thorn in Pakatan's side

Mark my words. This is the man who in most likelihood will bring down the Pakatan Rakyat state government in Selangor. Hasan Ali, who is in charge of Islamic Affairs in the state exco has once again re-ignited his "hate Christians" stance by coming out with a ridiculous accusation that Christians are now using solar operated gadgets to convert Muslims in the country. With barely 10% of the population who are Christians, this dysfunctional Muslim chap is already going bonkers. What if the Christian population is, say 20%. I dread to think what he would do to the community. But looking at the issue with a positive note, at least, the Christians are way ahead technologically and not mentally regressive as this fella.

Sometimes I wonder what he does in the state government besides looking for bones to pick with the Christians. Instead of accusing Christians for providing welfare aid to poor Muslims, he could have been more productive by:

1. Exploring ways to help the Muslim destitute, providing them food, clothing and shelter.

2. Comforting the sick, more so the terminally illed at hospitals and hospice homes.

3. Extend welfare aid to single mothers or wives abused by husbands.

4. Initiate special programmes to help the poor children in schools.

5. Regular checks on mosques and suraus to ensure the environment continues to be conducive for prayers, and finally, but most importantly,

6. Be engaged in inter-faith dialogues with people of other faiths.

These are some of the things he could have done that would be worthwhile the tax payers money. If he has so much hate in his heart for the Christians, it is no mere wonder he has little or no time to carry out his tasks proper as listed in his "job description", forget about meeting his KPI.

If he is so concerned about Christians proselytising to Muslims, then what about the case in Sarawak where innocent little children were stealthy taught Islamic teachings? Read HERE and HERE. So what we would like to know are his plans in helping to alleviate the sufferings of the poor Muslims in the State or is he just there, wasting his time our money, finding faults with others.

It is my fervent hope that Tan Sri Khalid will do something about this chap as otherwise the downfall of the Pakatan state government in Selangor is inevitable. Let's face it, Hasan Ali has broken ranks with the party, and it's time he goes, for good!

Robin Gibbs has liver cancer

Bee Gees star Robin Gibb is battling liver cancer, according to reports this weekend.

The 61-year-old was diagnosed several months ago it has been claimed.

He was rushed to hospital this week by ambulance this week after a 999 call was made from his £8million mansion but was allowed home after five hours, it has been reported.

Last month the star withdrew from recording a special Remembrance Sunday edition of the BBC programme Songs of Praise.

He later revealed in a statement that he was being treated for inflammation of the colon.

The Bee Gees, who also included brother Barry, 64, notched up decades of chart hits including 1970s disco tracks Night Fever and Stayin' Alive.

Robin and Dwina have one son, Robin-John, 26, who lives at the family home. The star has two other children, Spencer, 38, and Melissa, 36, by first wife Molly Hullis.

Monday Humour - An email from the Queen. An important announcement regarding the USA.

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

In light of your immediate failure to financially manage yourselves and
also in recent years your tendency to elect incompetent Presidents of the USA and
therefore not able to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your
independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in
the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties
over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she
does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America
without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be
disbanded.

A questionnaire may be circulated sometime next year to determine whether
any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following
rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,'
'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell
'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the
suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally, you will
be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels (look up 'vocabulary').

2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises

such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of
communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know

on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the

reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'

3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers,
or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're
not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you
can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're
not ready to shoot grouse.

5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more
dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to
carry a vegetable peeler in public.

6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving

on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with

immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and
metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been
calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French
fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly
called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup
but with vinegar.

9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually
beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as
beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred
to as Lager. New Zealand beer is also acceptable, as New Zealand is pound for

pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer.

They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them.

American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all

can be sold without risk of further confusion.

10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good
guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English
characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialogue in Four

Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed

with a cheese grater.

11. You will cease playing American football. There are only two kinds of
proper football; one you call soccer, and rugby (dominated by the New
Zealanders). Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play
rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not
involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full
kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host
an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of
America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your

borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will

let you face the Australians (World dominators) first to take the
sting out of their deliveries.

13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's
Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies

due (backdated to 1776).

15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with
saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes;
plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save the Queen!

MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY AND MANY MORE TO COME!

Here's wishing Nurul a very Happy Birthday and may she be blessed with a big win over NFC Sharizat in the coming GE.