Bung Oh Bung

This is just for the record. After seeing DBMR's photograph and Zizie togather in the Star today I thought that he deserved mentioned here. Know DBMR when he was my student at UKM during the 2005/06 academic year.
MP 'knot' tied to actress..!!!
Posted by RAKYAT MARHAEN Rabu, 2009 Disember 16

Honeymah Dylyani
KUALA LUMPUR - News portals are buzzing with news that firebrand MP Bung Mokhtar Radin and sizzling actress have married!Several of his Dewan Rakyat colleagues have purportedly received invitations to a wedding reception at a leading hotel here but the Kinabatangan rep has laughed off the hot news."I am not handsome enough for her," he told Malay news portal mStar, which reportedly said the akad nikah (solemnisation of marriage) ceremony for the two was held last week at a closed-door event.

When a reporter SMSed him to confirm whether a wedding would take place, he replied: "No kahwin, hahaha."The Sabah politician, 50, however, did not reply when asked if he had proposed to the 31-year-old actress, currently one of the hottest and most lucrative names in local TV dr amas.

Zizie's mother, Khaty Fauziah, has also refused to be drawn into any answers regarding her daughter's rumoured marriage to the MP."They're just starting to know each other," she told the portal, adding that Zizie was currently busy on set.

Actress considering proposal

The actress had reportedly admitted to Malay daily Utusan Malaysia that a certain MP had proposed to her and that she was ready to be his wife.In another interview, she told Malay tabloid Kosmo! that there is an MP that was special to her and that she needed time to consider whether or not to accept his marriage proposal.She reportedly said that since the proposal is from a married man, she has to think seriously about the matter "because I don’t want to hurt another woman’s feelings."Bung Mokhtar is already married, with four children.

A new hairdo

The reports fuelled rumours around Parliament House on Wednesday that the the two had indeed tied the knot. The stories were spiced with the side issue that the Kinabatangan MP had taken on a youthful hairstyle and dyed hair.Fellow MP Mohamed Aziz (Sri Gading), who is also known to be outspoken and controversial, was silent on this issue. No comments, he told the media.Another parliamentarian and close friend, Ismail Kassim (Arau) also sidestepped the issue. "It's a personal thing. I do not know anything." - Malaysian Mirror

The Passing of an Illustrious Diplomat.

The passing of Tun Ghazali Shafie, whose long illustrious service as the nation’s top Diplomat and Politician extraordinaire is indeed a great loss. In his heyday King Ghaz’s reputation in that specialized field is regarded by both friends and rivals as arguably, “Second-to-None”. A good reflection is reproduced here from The Star:
The long and illustrious road of a no-nonsense ministerBy PAUL GABRIEL
Monday January 25, 2010
paulnews@thestar.com.my
TUN Ghazali Shafie (pic) was often said to be a man who could surmount any challenge, and defy all odds.
Even when the media predicted his death when the light aircraft he was flying in with two others crashed at Kampung Janda Baik, near Genting Highlands, Ghazali emerged almost unscathed after spending 28 hours in the dense Pahang forest.
That was way back in 1982, when Ghazali was Foreign Minister. The other two were killed in the crash.
The Star’s headline on January 11 read “Ghaz in plane crash, minister feared dead”. Inside, two pages were dedicated to Ghazali, with pictures of him at the peak of his career.
A full-scale search operation was launched, joined by the then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk (now Tun) Musa Hitam.
It was feared that if Ghazali, who had “battled” the communist terrorists as Home Minister from 1973 to 1981, was alive, he could be captured by them.
He calmly said after being found: “I’m alive and walking... God is great.” It was reported that Ghazali, a qualified private pilot, had tumbled out of the aircraft “when I saw treetops of the jungle rushing at me.”
“King Ghaz” (a nickname he got from a character of the Alley Oop comics strip), certainly had an illustrious career in public service.
He was an expert in international affairs, known for his flamboyance and dashing style. “Ghazali had style, verve, intellect and confidence verging on arrogance,” wrote one observer way back when Ghazali was at the peak of his life.
He rose to the pinnacle of the ministry after having served as Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, leading in the efforts to keep Malaysia’s foreign policy on a neutral course of non-alignment.
Ghazali, who also served as Special Functions Minister and Information Minister, was probably best known for his “no nonsense” approach as Home Minister.
An avowed anti-communist, he kept alive in the public mind the eternal need for vigilance against the Red peril.
He was so thorough in his work that he expected journalists covering his assignments to come fully prepared.
Senior journalist Johan Fernandez remembers attending the minister’s briefing on a White Paper on the communist threat, back in the 70s, which had been distributed a week earlier to the media.
“When one of the reporters posed a question, a disgusted-looking Ghazali gave him a stare and snapped: “The White Paper was given to you people earlier to read and understand and ask intelligent questions. Whatever you ask is all written in the paper. Don’t waste my time!”
Ghazali’s tough mantle also came to the forefront when he spearheaded negotiations to seek the release of Malaysian, American and Swedish hostages caught in the Japanese Red Army siege at the AIA Building in Kuala Lumpur, where the US Embassy was located, in 1975.
As Home Minister during the crucial period, Ghazali excelled in his role as the “man in the middle”, drawing praise from the then Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri (now Tun) Haniff Omar.
“He blew his top at a Japanese official who seemed to be inept in moving to secure the release of the hostages. That was how Ghazali worked,” recalled another senior journalist.
Still, King Ghaz was not without his detractors. Some claimed that he was involved in certain conspiracies, and that he was too fond of making detentions under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Renowned journalist Datuk Seri Azman Ujang recalls visiting Ghazali at his Ampang Hilir residence several years ago, asking if he felt any guilt at all for all those arrests.
Known also for keeping his cool during sticky situations, the reply came: “I was just doing my job.”
It has certainly been a long and illustrious road for King Ghaz. He handled his duties the best way he knew and was not easily swayed by public opinion.http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/25/nation/5539677&sec=nation

I can recalled some memorable fleeting encounters with King Ghaz, the most recent one being at one of the ISIS conference/seminar in 2007.

But my first encounter with him was during the turbulent first week after May 13th. I believed he was then the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry. This is where I, as a young subaltern witness “his flamboyance and dashing style”. He was adressing a crowd at the Balai Dato’ Harun in Kampung Baru where I and my troop was patrolling. What struck me then was his thight blue jeans and a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver tucked under his belt behind him. He called me aside and asked for an up date. I gave the “under control situation reports”. He listened without interruption until I completed my short briefing. He then nodded at the rest of the troops and let us continue with our patrolling.

The second encounter was in May/June 1974 after the tragic accident suffered by Majid Din HSB Pahang. He was in a coma at the Temerloh Hospital and King Ghaz, who was then Home Minister and Majid Din’s Kampung mates decided that the victim is to be airlifted to HKL. If my memory served me right, the accident was on a Sunday and King Ghaz requested that I, as the MIO to arrange for a Nuri airlift. I got to speak to the duty officer in Mindef, a Major at about 1600hrs. Sensing that I have problem getting the Major to deal with the request, King Ghaz motioned that I gave him the handset. As a Captain I witness his “no nonsense side”. I can still recollect the words used by the minister, the result of which a Nuri was hoovering at a makeshift helipad at a school padang at about 2000 hrs flood lighted by about 20 cars headlight that I had arranged.
My third encounter was in early August 1988 which took place while waiting for my flight home to KL at Don Muang Airport, Bangkok. This was more on the lighter side of life and as a Lt Col I witnessed King Ghaz display of his intellect and wittiness at its best. I was approaching the airport restroom when King Ghaz suddenly exited from the ladies restroom. (I could only summised that in his haste to satisfy the call of nature he must have missed the signage to the men’s room) He almost collided with two Europen ladies and was reprimanded in no uncertain term “sir, this is meant for ladies”. Inside me I was telling myself how the hell is my minister going to respond. But true to form and without betting an eyelid King Ghaz quipped, “ I too,Ma’am, is meant for ladies”. Phew! you should be there to see the look on the two mat salleh's faces!!!

May Allah blessed his soul. Alfatihah.

.

The Passing of Sultan Iskandar

The Passing of Sultan Iskandar was confirmed by my friend Mir Hamzah at 2010 hrs on Friday who was informed by his source at the VVIP ward. I have not many recollection of having the opportunity to meet my Sultan except for the yearly aid fitri prayer at the Sultan Abu Bakar mosque in JB.

Another unforgetable moment was when DYMM Sultan deliver the Kutbah at the same mosque one Friday that I happened to be back in JB.

Watching the funeral services over TV1 was my only means to be part of that history. Daulat Tuanku and my Allah blessed his soul. Alfatihah.

Too Late For Recrimination- Revisited

I wrote on 16 Dec, 2008 about our compressor being stolen and early today Ayu called to informed us that her abode in Bukit Jelutong was broken into and a significant loss was incurred. She sounded distraught and we told her to be calm and that we are coming . At least I don't feel too bad 'cause now Ayu has a new shoulder to lean on since her hubby, Zam was there to support her. Two police cars were at her abode when we arrived and we were told that they were just responding to the emergency call and since no emergency action were needed they left after scouting around and leaving it to the investigating officer to take action. Zam took us on a "tour of the intruder's entry,collection effort and escapade" route. Look like a young punk's doing based on his liking for electronic games gadgets taken. Also cash, jewellery and expensive items of Ayu's collection. The investigating officer, Sargent Fauzi and his photographer arrived at about 1000hrs and spent about 90 minutes doing their CSI chores. Before leaving Sargent Fauzi told Ayu to make the official report at Shah Alam Police HQ. After making the report, they were told that the result will be made available in 1 month. YES ONLY IN HOLLYWOOD MOVIE THE RESULT IS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY!!!!!! All told the loss is in the region of 50k.
Too Late For Recrimination too here. Obviously the break in happened between 1400hrs to 1900hrs on Saturday. Ayu sent the cleaning lady at 1300hrs. In her haste Ayu has forgotten to switch on the alarm and also the CCTV. This costly oversight gave the intruder a free ride or else his escapade would've been recorded. Human can only proposes but Allah disposes. This should teach us to be more meticulous in our dealing and never act in a hurry.

What Seclurism has done?

I am not going to use the cliche' " I told you so", but events unfolding in the past week proved my point to the dot. It culminated in what Lee Lam Thye wrote in the Star today as " dastardly act ". So who's responsible for the arsonist gambade aimed at three churches that attracted a galvanized crescendo that get front page coverage in the local print media. A typical Malaysian Brouhaha followed with the icing to the human made disaster further muddled by calls, advices and comments of the leaders, politicians and NGOs of all colours and hues including the Chameleon.....
But my third side of the coin says that the honourable Justice Lau Bee Lan is the source of this calamity. She should've temper her judgment with the insight that " the threat to national security" her judgement would render would unfold. Central to this is when religious issues is left to be arbitrated using secular wisdom which is human inspired. To me anything that is human made is open to flaws. As a result of this lady's myopia a situation that threaten national security now prevail. The source of this falls squarely at her feet and nobody else. On the other hand, it could be just the judge's act of salvation!!!!! Considering that......

The Holy Ghost is not Allah

Allahhuakbar.
The christian pundit in Malaysia won the court case to use the word 'Allah" in their publication. Thanks to the high court ruling. No thanks to the eminent finding of the judge who set on the case. What bulls!!!
Produced below is the ruling as reported in the Star of 31st December, 2009.
"...Court rules Herald free to use the word "Allah"
By Lisa Goh
KUALA LUMPUR: The Catholic weekly Herald is now free to use the word "Allah" in its publication after the High Court quashed the Home Minister's prohibition against it using the word, declaring the order as "illegal, null and void."
In her decision, Justice Lau Bee Lan also declared that under Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, applicant Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam had the constitutional right to use "Allah" in Herald in the exercise of his right that religions other than Islam might be practised in peace and harmony in the country.
She further ruled that the Constitution, which states Islam as the country's religion, did not empower the minister to make such a prohibition.
"In pursuant to Article 10, the applicant also has the right to use the word 'Allah' in the Herald in the exercise of his right to freedom of speech and expression." she said in her oral judgment Thursday to a packed courtroom.
Justice Lau ruled as grounds for her judgement that both the respondents - the minister and the Malaysian government - had failed throughout the trial to prove how the use of the word "Allah" could threaten national security.
On Jan 7 last year, the Home Ministry had approved the Herald's publication permit on condition that the usage of the word "Allah" was prohibited and the word "Limited" (Terhad) be endorsed on its front page to mean that it must be circulated only to Christians.
The minister had prohibited the usage on grounds of national security and to avoid misunderstanding and confusion among Muslims.
The Archbishop, as Herald's publisher, had filed an application on Feb 16 for a judicial review to seek a declaration that the minister’s decision for the prohibition was illegal and that the word "Allah" was not exclusive to Islam.
Representing the Archbishop were counsel Porres P. Royan and S. Selvarajah while senior federal counsel Datuk Kamaludin Md Said stood for the respondents.
Following the ruling, Kamaludin sought a clarification for the declaration to be only confined for the permit in question, which was for the period from Jan 1 to Dec 31 last year, and not future permits.
"It does not relate to an order or decision relating to future permits," he said, adding that future permits would require a fresh application.
However, Royan argued that the permit for the period between Jan 1 and Dec 31 this year had already been issued, subjected to the same condition pending the court's determination on the matter.
"The order speaks for itself. I believe the minister will be bound by the words he has used and that he will respect the court's decision.
"Of course, they have other remedies. The court has granted declarations to allow the use of the word 'Allah' that must bind the parties," he said.
Kamaludin then said he would seek direction from the minister on whether they would file a stay of execution application or an appeal.
In an immediate reaction, Herald’s editor Father Andrew Lawrence told the press that this was a "long-awaited" decision, hailing it as a "landmark case for our nation"...."

Yes, so WHAT?? Hail to Justice Lau Bee Lan. I prey for devine intervention that this lady will get her "reward" for her impertinency. Allahhuakbar!!! Just like the eminent Augustine Paul.
On a more realistic note, my third side of the coin forecast this.To me this so-called eminent lady has just opened up the pandora box that proved to be the antithesis of her finding that "...the minister and the Malaysian government - had failed throughout the trial to prove how the use of the word "Allah" could threaten national security...." Just wait lady, because the scenerio that could threaten national security that your mypoic judgement asserts will soon unfold in the week ahead. Its simple deduction, lady, based on my experience in dealing with issues of national security. Just watch!!!!