LONE

Monday, October 31, 2005

Nicol Wins Again

The final of the Carol Weymuller Squash Open 2005 was won by Nicol David. As is seemingly her fashion of late, Nicol lost the opening game against the other finalist, Natalie Grinham. She then won the next three games to win the final :: 5/9, 9/6, 9/4, 9/3.

This is Nicol's 6th pro-title win.

22-year-old Nicol had lost to Natalie in four previous meetings over the last two years but managed to beat Natalie in the recently concluded British Open in Manchester. This is Nicol's second win over Natalie. Besides the British Open, Nicol also won in the Open tournaments of Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Holland and Malaysia this year.

Nicol is ranked No 3 in the WISPA World Ranking with 1482.632 points, while Rachael Grinham, the No 1 has 2013.611 points and Vanessa Atkinson, the No 2 has 1970.263 points. So it looks like Nicol won't be making the climb in world ranking in the next two months or so. Behind her are the two Natalies; Natalie Grainger, No 4, with 1191.579 points and Natalie Gringam, the No 5, with 1132.941 points.

Three cheers for Nicol and her winning ways.

| ¶ 10/31/2005 08:24:00 PM

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Carol Weymuller 2005

The fight for the 2005 Carol Weymuller squash crown will see Nicol David and Natalie Grinham staging a repeat of their recent British Open final. Hopefully like the British Open, we will see Nicol triumphant again.
In the semi-final match between Nicol David and Vicky Botwright, a match which has been described as the match of the tournament so far, and also the longest so far. Nicol managed to sneak by Vicky 5/9, 9/1, 3/9, 9/6, 10/8 in a total play time of 90 minutes.
In the other semi-final match, Natalie Grinham came through a tough test from an in-form Isabelle Stoehr. Natalie won 10/9, 6/9, 9/2, 9/1 in 65 minutes to move into a possible grudge final against Nicol.
Hopefully, the extra long semi-final match won't take a toll on Nicol and affect her performance in the final. Winning the Carol Weymuller crown will probably see Nicol moving from her present No 3 position nearer if not to the very top of ladies world squash.

| ¶ 10/30/2005 06:00:00 PM

Friday, October 28, 2005

Another DAP MP Blogs

Just noticed that another DAP MP has join the blogosphere. Found the link at Politics 101 Malaysia. The latest DAP MP blogger is Ms Teresa Kok, her blog carries a great photo of one of my favourite lady MPs.

Ms Teresa Kok Suh Sim is the DAP Member of Parliament for Seputeh. She calls being an MP her occupation and is a second term MP for Seputeh. She is also Publicity Secretary of DAP and the National Secretary of Wanita DAP. Like Mr Lim Kit Siang's, i am looking forward to reading Ms Kok's blog to follow political events as they unfold on the Malaysian scene. i hope that more of our elected representative on all sides of the political divide will make use of the internet to have their say. Of course i am not expecting that Badruddin to make good use of this as even in the august house his utterrances have been ones better not made.
Our BBC chairperson also has a blog here :: Shahrir-UMNO.com but it appears he is kept busier here :: Shahrir-umno.com.
PKR Sivarasa had a web site for the 11th election but it has not been updated since April 2004! Looks like it will only come alive again when the 12th election comes. Wonder why he has not continue with the internet presence. This is what happens with lots of our politicos, appearing only when the elections come around. Parachute candidates just won't do.
DAP ADUN Teng Chang Khim also has a web presence, his Klang Online can be found here
Are there other politico blogs or web sites out there?

| ¶ 10/28/2005 10:18:00 PM

Reactions to that K word

In America don't use the N word and in BolehLand, the K word. Many may think that the K word is okay, especially this MP called Badruddin. But it is obvious that the Indian Malaysian community disagrees. So stop using it.
The YB Badruddin, noted for his histrionics and antics in that august house, has decided to display his less knowledgeable side again. Apart from that, what did he meant when he said :: "This is a fasting month. I don't want to argue with people who don't understand, who do not fast". Is he trying to say something about people who does not fast?
The DAP MPs were fast to react to his utterances and it must be said that BN MP SK Devamany did react too, albeit a wee bit slow. The Jerai MP eventually did withdraw the K word but not before arguig that the term was commonly used by the people of the northern states of the peninsula to refer to Indians and that he did not mean to insult the community. Obviously he is not aware that the Indian Malaysian comunity does not take kindly to it. Maybe MIC president should come out to state clearly whether this K word is derogatory or not as there are people like the Jerai MP who thinks otherwise. This should put to rest whether it is ok to use it or not.
Meanwhile a polis report has been lodged Others have suggested how the Indian Malaysian community shoud react when this particular MP turns up for Deepavali open house celebrations. Since some have deemed the MIC to be impotent due to the lack of response to this MP's remarks, they have suggested that the MIC president's Deepavali open house should be given a miss. Someone even suggested that the MIC should elect a Chinese as its president in view of the strong defence of the Indian Malaysian community by the Chinese DAP MPs.
Meanwhile, the STAR rpeorts that the row over the K word has flared up again in Parliament. This time around, the K word was not mentioned but the Jasin MP asked if Devamany wanted them to prostrate at his feet. Our MPs do say the funniest of things while wasting Parliamentary time. He even asked whether a new name like Tanjung India be used for Tanjung K!

| ¶ 10/28/2005 10:29:00 AM

Thursday, October 20, 2005

PM Wife Passes On

The PM's wife, Datin Seri Paduka Endon Mahmood, has passed away at 0755 hours this morning after a long battle with breast cancer. May she rest in peace.
In early October, she came back after treatment in the US. She was kept in PutraJaya hospital for monitoring. Dr Hisham Abdullah, PutraJaya Hospital's head and consultant of the Dept of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, had strongly advised Pak Lah to spend more quality time with her. At the same time the media reportedly said that "she has made notable, albeit slow progress". But from the tone of things said, it was quite obvious that her long drawn fight with the big "C" was nearing an end.
When she came back in early October, the PM said that his wife, Endon had expressed her wish to return home to welcome the fasting month of Ramadan and to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Our condolences and sympathies go to the PM and his family members in their hour of grief.

LINKS::
Malaysiakini Photo Gallery::Endon's Funeral, Last Respects
NST Photo Gallery::Datin Seri Endon's Life in Pictures
STAR:: Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood 1940-2005
SUN::Remembering Datin Seri Endon in Pictures

| ¶ 10/20/2005 03:14:00 PM

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Nicol David::British Open 2005 Champion

Nicol David won the Dunlop British Open championship with a straight-games win over Natalie Grinham. The scores :: 9/6, 9/7, 9/6.

Read what she has to say about her victory here.

Nicol with her championship trophy.

| ¶ 10/18/2005 06:58:00 AM

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Top Cop's Son Nabbed?

The news that a high ranking polis officer's son was nabbed by the ACA was first seen on Malaysiakini which carried a report stamped 459pm :: Police chief’s son arrested by ACA. The 800pm TV3 news also carried a brief report that a high ranking polis officer's son was caught by the ACA. the web edition of the SUN carried a report :: Top cop's son nabbed for suspected corruption, time-stamped 925pm.

Both reports mentioned the arrest of a polis officer's 32 year old son together with a KL City Hall officer on Wednesday night. The duo was said to have been arrested on Wednesday afternoon after RM12,000 was believed to have been handed over to them by trader(s) wanting to obtain KL City Hall Ramadan stalls. According to the Malaysiakini report the duo had 10 so-called Ramadan stalls; the SUN report mentioned that they had 18 stalls! Such stalls are in great demand during this festive season especially so this year as the Deepavali and the Hari Raya celebrations are so closed together.

Earlier on, the SUN carried a report that such stalls are said to cost RM300 when obtained from City Hall and the traders pay RM1,000 to RM2,000 for each of them. Traders are said to be able to earn as much as RM2,000 daily during the festive season. So stalls in "choice spots" like those behind Globe's and Semua House can fetch more than RM6,000, those in the middle of Masjid India RM4,000, and those along Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman RM2,000. These stalls are obtained by ballotting. Each year, some traders would alleged that there were discrepancies in the issuance of licences for these stalls by Kuala Lumpur City Hall. To add to the chaos, this year, some traders have alleged that non-traders or those they call Rambos and Kacang Hantus have been able to obtained the stalls. These Rambos/Kacang Hantus are not interested in running the stalls but instead sell the stall licenses for quick profits. They are said to be able to sell them to genuine stall operators for between RM2,000 and RM6,000 each.

| ¶ 10/13/2005 11:55:00 PM

Sunday, October 09, 2005

ISA will continue as MP

On 24th June this year, the UMNO Disciplinary Board suspended Federal Territories Minister, UMNO vice-president, Teluk Kemang UMNO chief, Jempol MP and former long-time Negeri Sembilan big MINIster, Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad's membership in UMNO for six years or two terms after finding him guilty on five of the nine charges of playing money politics, [most people would consider this as a form of corruption] in the run-up to the UMNO polls last year. Together with this UMNO membership suspension, he was suspended from all UMNO post as well.
The former Negri Sembilan big MINIster contested for the UMNO vice-president post in the last UMNO polls and had won the post with the highest number of votes. This was his first vice-president win and it looks like his last as even with his suspension now reduced to three years he won't be eligible to contest the next polls.
According to a report by Joceline Tan of the STAR, apparently, the UMNO Disciplinary Board had upheld the six-year suspension of Isa, but the UMNO management committee, which is chaired by the DPM and comprised other top party figures, had recommended the reduction in penalty after studying the case. Mitigating factors taken into considerations included his years of service in the party and his conduct after the six-year suspension was imposed. The UMNO supreme council went along with the recommendations of the managemnt committee that the six-year suspension be reduced to three. The DPM had this to say ::

"The supreme council's decision took into account mitigative circumstances that need to be considered, his services to the party and conduct after the six-year suspension was imposed. Isa showed a good example during the suspension period."

Isa is expected to resign from his minsterial post soon. At a news conference called at his home in Nilai Spring Villa, Isa said: "I have no problem in stepping down from my ministerial post...wait and see. My tenure at the ministry will possibly end within a week." That he is not resigning with immediate effect is now a point of contention with the opposition leader, Lim Kit Siang. Mr Lim is wondering why the need for a week for Isa to do so, he considers that in a week anything can happen.
As for his post as the MP for Jempol, Isa says that he will be staying on. So the people of Jempol will have an MP who has been suspended as an UMNO member because he indulged money politics. Ever the "good boy" with the exemplary behaviour and even to this day, having his party best interests in mind, he has his good reasons for not resigning as an MP. Not wanting to cause further problems for the party which has suspended his membership for the next 3 years, he has this to say as to why he is not quitting as Jempol MP ::

"This is because it would cause inconvenience to the party and require a big expenditure. In the event of a by-election, the issue concerning me will be exploited by the Opposition.
"I don't want to create so many problems."

There you have it, from the man who was found guilty by his own party and suspended for "money politics", a thing many would consider as a form of corruption, explaining why he won't cause further distress to his party by not quitting as MP.

| ¶ 10/09/2005 06:32:00 PM

Friday, October 07, 2005

The Tun to DSAI::To Court, To Court...

BERNAMA reports that the Tun will not accede to Anwar Ibrahim's demands for an apology and RM100 million compensation in relation to the allegedly defamatory words about DSAI uttered by the Tun.
In a letter replying to DSAI's demands, the Tun said he would vigorously defend any law suit against him. In his letter, the Tun said the Federal Court in its decision on Sept 2 last year had in fact made a specific finding of fact that DSAI was actually involved in gay activities. One can still read the MAJORITY JUDGMENT OF ABDUL HAMID MOHAMAD F.C.J. AND TENGKU BAHARUDIN SHAH TENGKU MAHMUD J.C.A, here but for those who are too lazy or busy to read the entire judgment, the summary is below ::

To summarise our judgment, even though reading the appeal record, we find evidence to confirm that the appellants were involved in homosexual activities and we are more inclined to believe that the alleged incident at Tivoli Villa did happen, sometime, this court, as a court of law, may only convict the appellants if the prosecution has successfully proved the alleged offences as stated in the charges, beyond reasonable doubt, on admissible evidence and in accordance with established principles of law. We may be convinced in our minds of the guilt or innocence of the appellants but our decision must only be based on the evidence adduced and nothing else. In this case Azizan's evidence on the "date" of the incident is doubtful as he had given three different "dates" in three different years, the first two covering a period of one month each and the last covering a period of three months. He being the only source for the "date", his inconsistency, contradiction and demeanor when giving evidence on the issue does not make him a reliable source, as such, an essential part of the offence has not been proved by the prosecution. We also find the second appellant's confession not admissible as it appears not to have been made voluntarily. Even if admissible the confession would not support the "date" of the commission of the offences charged. We have also found Azizan to be an accomplice. Therefore corroborative evidence of a convincing, cogent and irresistable character is required. While the testimonies of Dr. Mohd. Fadzil and Tun Haniff and the conduct of the first appellant confirm the appellants' involvement in homosexual activities, such evidence does not corroborate Azizan's story that he was sodomised by both the appellants at the place, time and date specified in the charge. In the absence of any corroborative evidence it is unsafe to convict the appellants on the evidence of an accomplice alone unless his evidence is unusually convincing or for some reason is of special weight which we find it is not. Furthermore, the offence being a sexual offence, in the circumstances that we have mentioned, it is also unsafe to convict on the evidence of Azizan alone.
For all the above reasons, we are not prepared to uphold the conviction. Since the applicbale law in this case requires that the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt before the defence may be called, the burden being the same as is required to convict the appellants at the end of the case for the defence, we are of the view that the High Court has misdirected itself in calling for the appellants to enter their defence. They should have been acquitted at the end of the case for the prosecution.
We therefore allow the appeals of both appellants and set aside the convictions and sentences.

[bold letters and italics added in by blogger]
In court on that fateful day for DSAI, Justice Abdul Hamid took the unprecedented step of reminding all to read in full the majority judgment before commenting on the decision to free DSAI and Sukma. Did he forsee that the decision would lead to what is presently happening? If DSAI proceed with the next step to initiate legal proceedings against the Tun, will the result be hinged on the interpretations of what Justice Abdul Hamid and Justice Tengku Baharudin Shah said that day, more than a year ago? Did they in fact made a specific finding of fact that DSAI was actually involved in homosexual activities? Or were they more inclined to believe so?
Now that the Tun has given his reply, more or less telling Anwar that he will see him in court, the ball is at Anwar's feet. According to Malaysiakini, Anwar’s lawyer said he had informed Anwar about the latest development and Anwar was expected to issue a statement soon. Are we in for interesting times or what?

| ¶ 10/07/2005 08:50:00 PM

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

AP Saga Sudah Mampus Kah?

AP Saga yang berkaitan dengan lagi satu Saga iaitu Proton Saga nampaknya telah mampus. Sebelum Datuk Seri Rapidah balek katanah air, rakyat jelata telah diberi tahu oleh Wakil Rakyat kami [WRK] bahawa beliau akan 'digorengkan' apabila ditemukan diDewan Rakyat. Pada hari Thalatha yang baru lepas, rakyat telah jangka akan diadakan "fireworks" diDewan mulia. Tetapi 45 minit yang digunakan untuk Rapidah menjawapkan soalan daripada WRK telah lepas tanpa apa apa letupan. STAR telah melaporkan peristiwa itu dengan mengatakan"Tame affair at question time" dan "Iron Lady proves her mettle". BERNAMA pula melaporkan "Rafidah Answers AP Queries In Parliament, No Fireworks". Nampaknya beliau telah mendapat semacam 'pukau' rakan rakan sejawatnya dan sebilangan mereka, sama sekali Menteri yang menjaga Parliamen, telah menerima jawapannya dengan baik. Datuk Seri Nazri katakan Menteri MITI telah memberi suatu persembahan yang cermerlang dan dia sendiri menganggapkan isu AP Saga telah diselesaikan. Whoa, nampaknya, Rapidah telah "win over" banyak WRK dalam masa 45 minit itu.

Datuk Seri Rapidah nampak tidak takut dengan Ketua Pembangkan Parliamen dan telah "threaten" nak sue dia dan memanggil Kit Siang sebagai pelawak istana aka "court jester"! Kit Siang tidak rasa memuaskan dengan jawapan jawapan Rapidah dan janji akan "pursue the issue to its bitter end". Tetapi Kit Siang hanya suatu "lone voice".

Tun kami juga telah 'give up' semangatnya tentang isu AP Saga. Tun dilaporkan beliau yakin Rapidah akan memberi keterangan yang baik berkaitan dengan isu tersebut. Sebelum ini, Tun kami telah kata ada banyak soalan yang belum dapat jawapan lagi.

Malam ini, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, Ketua Penerangan UMNO, telah memanggil semua berhenti daripada membangkit isu ini lagi. Dia meminta semua fokus kapada isu isu yang lebih penting kapada negara dan masyarakat Melayu. Dia menganggap isu AP Saga sebagai sesuatu isu yang basi, itulah maklumbalas yang diberi oleh rakyat kapadanya! Nampaknya dengan itu, AP Saga sudah mampus.

Kami doakan dan harap Datuk Seri Rapidah dapat sembuh dari pembedahan lulutnya dengan secepat mungkin dan dapat balek menjalankan tugas tugas Menteri dalam masa yang singkat. Pada masa ini yang banyak bermasaalah, tentu Pak Lah pasti memerlukan seorang Menteri yang sehandal ini untuk rancangan "Work with Me and Not for Me" beliau.

Lao -tzu said :: He who knows enough is enough will always have enough.
Have we had enough of the AP Saga? Do we know enough of the AP Saga, enough for us all to want to move on?

| ¶ 10/05/2005 10:36:00 PM

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