My second lead story (New Sunday Times, Jan 22)

ARMED FORCES' MISSION TO HELP AFGHANS REBUILD LIVES

Because it has an established organisation and a chain of command, the military is always the first choice of the authorities in responding to emergencies and disasters.

Other than disaster operations, our troops have also been deployed abroad, namely in Lebanon, Afghanistan and Mindanao in the Philippines.

Malaysia is also setting a modern benchmark by sending our female soldiers to serve the frontline in educating the women in Afghanistan on maternal health and midwifery.

However, according to Brig-Gen Datuk Dr Samsudin Suirman from the military's Joint Force Headquarters health department J9, the MAF will only provide assistance when there is a request by the foreign governments and after being approved by the cabinet.

"MAF does not send its team to any country without a request. All our missions abroad are on a government-to-government basis or via the United Nation's Mission."

In July 2010, under the operational command of the Malcon-ISAF (the Malaysian Contingent for International Security Assistance Forces), a contingent comprising of medical personnel from the Royal Malaysian Medical and Dental Corp, which includes a command, administration and security elements, was sent to several remote districts in Afghanistan.

The contingent, which is managed by the Joint Forces Command (JFC) headquarters at the Defence Ministry, Kuala Lumpur, works closely with the Afghan's Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).

"The Afghan government invited the MAF to provide humanitarian services in Central Bamyan, Yadkawlang, Waras and Panjab.

"We are there solely to provide medical and humanitarian services, not as part of the coalition forces.

"Our mission in Afghanistan is different from other missions that the JFC headquarters manages.

"Other than the core services of medical and dental health, the joint force team, comprising the Malaysian army, navy and air force, also holds various programmes to help the community in capacity building and institutional development."

According to Major Dr Mohd Arshil Moideen, head of the public health team of Malcon2-ISAF, the MAF initially provided medical and dental services, and some medical training.

After the United States announced that it would pull its forces from Afghanistan by 2014, the Malaysian team decided to shift its mission to capacity building.

"We decided to help the community to stand on their own feet. We also act as an adviser to the MOPH in terms of health governance.

"When we first arrived in Afghanistan, we came up with an observation report, which was the first ever report on the country over the problems in the health sector.

"We identified the health needs and developed a three-year action plan until 2014 to help the community identify its problems and ways to solve them," says Arshil, who is a clinical epidemiologist.

He adds that the Malcon-ISAF team, which currently comprises 40 medical personnel, carries out various activities, but the milestone project was collaborating with MOPH in field water safety and testing, and constructing a water filtration system to enable the community to have safe drinking water.

On sending our female soldiers to Afghanistan, Arshil says the presence of MAF women soldiers helps the Afghan women to open up and reveal the problems faced by them and their children more comfortably.

"Afghanistan has the world's highest maternity mortality rate, and in Bamyan, where there is little or no proper road and communication access, it can take up to three days of travelling for these women to seek medical help.

"So, we plan to set up maternity homes at several locations in the province for these women, especially those with higher risk for delivery complications, to stay over close to the hospital until they give birth."

Indeed, there have been misconceptions on the presence of the armed forces in a foreign country such as Afghanistan, which has been torn by war and conflict for more than 40 years.

But as Samsudin puts it, the Malaysian troops are there for a "different kind of battle".

"Our men and women are there as a partner for peace and stability.

"We are on a mission to help, to the best of our resources and capacity, in the institutional development of the country. It is our contribution as fellow human beings."

Read more: Armed forces’ mission to help Afghans rebuild lives - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/local/general/armed-forces-mission-to-help-afghans-rebuild-lives-1.38605#ixzz1lP8W1pWh

My article on Malaysian humanitarian aid as appeared on New Sunday Times (Jan 22, 2012):

GIVING AID WHERE IT'S NEEDED MOST

IN 1999, moved by the plight of women and children in Kosovo, which was riven by conflict and crimes against humanity, a Malaysian doctor enlisted five friends from the medical line and together they flew to the country to provide whatever help they could. All at their own expense.

Soon after, realising that there were many others like her who wanted to get involved in humanitarian work, Dr Jemilah Mahmood established Mercy Malaysia (Mercy), a non-profit medical relief organisation.

Dr Jemilah and the other extraordinary Malaysians did more than just provide humanitarian assistance. They had proven what Malaysians today are capable of.

Going against all odds to help others in need, in the country as well as abroad, without a care for the expenses, health and even threat to life and limb, is a reflection of the great progress Malaysians are making in getting out of their comfort zones to take up new challenges.

Humanitarian acts have been carried out since time immemorial. But it was only in the 19th Century that it was given a new lease of life when Henri Dunant established the Red Cross to treat wounded soldiers on both sides of the battlefield.

Since then, humanitarian work has evolved to include missions to aid civilian populations affected or injured by armed conflicts, natural and man-made disasters.

However, the rebirth of such missions was largely based on the Western flavour.

But according to Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus, who succeeded Dr Jemilah as president of Mercy in 2003, more and more Asian countries are now undertaking humanitarian missions.

He says that Malaysians, who have benefited tremendously in economic terms over the years, are also more keenly aware of their social responsibilities.

"They are more aware of what is happening in and out of the country and are developing the ability to help others.

"Though our country may be spared from major disasters such as earthquakes and cyclones, we must not close our eyes to the sufferings of our fellow man abroad," Dr Faizal told the New Sunday Times.

While there are numerous Malaysians who aspire to help in humanitarian missions, Dr Faizal says it is not as simple as jumping on the next plane to a disaster or conflict-hit country.

He says humanitarian outreach needs to be done professionally because it requires higher levels of endurance, and there are various national as well as international laws on humanitarian action, governed by a United Nations charter, that all aid organisations must comply with.

"Aid organisations must also be able to collaborate with different parties, including other aid agencies, to ensure a transparent and effective operation," he says, adding that this can also avoid instances of redundancy.

Malaysian disaster-relief groups shot to prominence when Banda Aceh in Indonesia was hit by one of the world's most devastating earthquakes and tsunamis in 2004.

Malaysia was quick to respond by deploying its armed forces to help. Several aid agencies, including Mercy, also wasted no time in heading for the disaster zone.

It was then that Malaysia's humanitarian work started earning global recognition, and some agencies like Mercy have now moved on to greater challenges such as alleviating the suffering of people ravaged by armed conflicts in Gaza and Somalia.

Indeed, the extent of involvement in humanitarian efforts and volunteerism indicates how far a society has developed and an attestation to how much the people's mindsets have evolved.

While it took more than 100 years for Western humanitarian organisations to leave a mark in relief work, Malaysia, despite being very new in the field, has made remarkable strides in less than 10 years.

Dr Faizal says Malaysia's societal paradigm shift has never been so dramatic.

"The majority of Malaysians are not afraid to show that we care. This is evident from the number of volunteers in the country that has now grown into the thousands, serving in many organisations."

He adds that the huge sense of personal satisfaction, knowing that we have helped to alleviate the sufferings of other people, is reward in itself. Even if the people and situations pose so much difficulties.

Dr Faizal encourages more Malaysians to get involved in volunteerism as it helps to develop them as individuals, as they cannot depend "on having the right infrastructure" in the field.

Volunteers, he adds, must be highly motivated and moved by the desire to make a difference in the world.

"Volunteering helps to elevate our minds and repositions us to become first-class citizens.

"Malaysians should be grateful for what we have because we are now at a juncture where we have the resources and capabilities to contribute to international aid, not so much the other way around."

Read more: Giving aid where it’s needed most - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/local/general/giving-aid-where-it-s-needed-most-1.38598#ixzz1lP7P6Kui

TIS THE SEASON NOT TO BE IN TOTAL JOLLY

Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Eid ul Fitr) is only days away and the heat of last-minute Raya shopping, on top of the annual balik kampung exodus, is immense. Though I would consider myself lucky for being still single and staying with parents (meaning I don't have to be among the thousands who's stranded in a 40-minute/km traffic jam), I still need to join the other folks in a 2-hour per meter standstill in downtown KL for my last-minute shopping.

After 38 years of celebrating Hari Raya, I still find myself devoid of the senses to commit to doing early Raya shopping. I procrastinate a lot I admit that. It's not my habit really but I seem to be dragging my feet when it comes to Raya shopping. I must admit, which I'm sure some would consider me a Raya Grinch, that I hate Raya shopping! I hate the fact that I will be driven to buying new baju kurung which only ends up collecting dust in the closet. And if I go shopping with my mum, I ended up buying more than one baju kurung! It doesn't make it any better when shops seem to think that they can go on and keep fooling their customers with 30% discounts after they had marked-up the prices to more than 50%. And if they're giving away 50% discounts, that would be after they've marked-up the so-called "original" price 70% higher. If this daylight robbery doesn't get you fuming, then I don't know what is.

Therefore, I dedicate this entry for a boutique-bashing spree.

You see, I wasn't born yesterday, and yet some of the boutiques that I had the misfortune at visiting, think that they can fool, whom they think an unsuspecting customer like me, into parting with my hard-earned ringgit on a cheap trashy so-called chiffon kaftan for RM890!!! I remember seeing almost the same exact dress on the Internet for RM180 only! I suppose the boutique owner (who is also an multi-level marketing a.k.a MLM queen) thinks we're all Neanderthals who see the computer as something we chew for breakfast, thereby devoid of outside information. In simpler term, she thinks we're bodoh i.e stupid.

Another boutique closer to my place also thinks they can ride us like asses. A set of baju kurung brought down from Vietnam, which usually priced at RM150 was sold for RM179 after 50% discount. After discount! I mean wtf do these people take us for? If I had came in earlier before the so-called sale period, I would have to fork out RM358. That is if I was stupid enough-lah in the first place as to fall for it. And how do I get to know about the standard price? Well, my sis' neighbour flies to Vietnam more often than she does to the haberdasher nearby. She goes there for the baju kurung, comes back here and sell them, usually not more than RM180 per set. Most of the times, she let us off with 3 instalments. And the baju kurung are mostly akin to the ones, though with different colours and beading design, on the racks in the blood-sucking boutique that I mentioned earlier.

I understand that these boutique owners need to pay the rent. But when I was studying business in UK, we learnt that profits made should hover around 30%. That's the rule. Unless the items on sale are unique or of designer's items, or have a timeless value attached to it, then you're just simply taking a ride on your customers. It's ok if you plan to stay in business for three months but otherwise, stop egging the pudding on the price tags. Customers are not numbskulls. They know when they are being pinched and when they do, no amount of marketing and "discounts" will save your ass.

When I do my Raya shopping, I have to be extra mindful of how much am I willing to part with my money over a nice-looking-but-not-necessarily-worth-it piece of clothing, or any item for that matter. It can be a very stressful chore indeed. Don't get me wrong. It's not that I hate shopping. I love shopping. I heart shopping. I just hate Raya shopping. For the fact that it's usually done during the Ramadan month makes it all the more stressful because I can't rest for tea, which I usually do in between my hopping from one shop to another. But there's no running away from doing it during this time of the season. I still need to do that shopping. And I shall need plenty of physical stamina to wade in the road and human traffic, as well as the mental grit when looking at the price tags.

Leaping out of the "box": Can we do it?

I have stumbled upon a new buzzword: skyboxification. Since I love the way it sounds and feeling an inch cleverer when uttering the word but knows nothing of what it means, I did what other one billion people worldwide would do when they're too lazy to reach for the nearly fossilised dictionary. I Google it.

Skyboxification was coined by Michael Sandel, professor of political philosophy at Harvard, to describe the "physical and social disassociation of the wealthy from traditionally public forums that provided a setting for civil discourse". Quite a mouthful really, yet so relevant. While Sandel would integrate the meaning to the American life's setting, I'd like to apply it closer to home.

Firstly, what the hell is skyboxification?

When Sandel coined the word, he was referring it to luxury boxes at sports arena or stadiums "which cosset the privileged in air-conditioned suites, far removed from the crowd below". He's relating it to how public spaces and amenities are deliberately designed to create societal gap between the rich and the lesser beings.

Skyboxification exists in every part of the world and in every society. While I may not vouch the term to other society in other countries, I'd like to see how far this skyboxification has been practised in this country or where people of different backgrounds and incomes can interact or co-exist.

After learning what it means, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to identify skyboxification. Stadiums and sports arena aside, we can see this at banks too. While there may not be a skybox or a grandstand in banks, they do have VIP room for their platinum guests. One can easily bypass the long queue at the counters if one has the bucks.

In KLCC, there's even a designated premier washroom located on designers items floor where you'll get to pee amidst the tranquilising smell of aromatherapy oils. There are lotions and potions of yummy-smelling stuff for you to lather and spray yourself with, ensuring that you walk out of the loo smelling fresh and not foul. And you'll never be short of toilet paper either, a rarity in other free washrooms. And don't get me started on public toilets!

Sandel, however, did not stop there. He went on to say that we need to apply the bedrock of forming civic discourse, which largely believe to be the foundation of a democratic process. In Malaysia's context, democratic aside, civic discourse is not an impossible feat to achieve. Let's flip our minds to a different side of the coin and we can actually see that we are, somehow, already building that civic discourse, whether we realise it or not.

Malaysia is built on a myriad of cultures and ethnic groups. While there are some rabble rousers (politicians included) go on dividing the people with boorish statements and rude lies, the nation still stands as one. This is already civic discourse in the works. There are endless campaigns shepherding students to be more involved with the community, corporations engaging in civic engagement through their social responsibility programmes, and neighbours indulging in gotong-royong. From these littlest steps that we can start ambling our way into integrating Sandel's skyboxification into Malaysian life.

He suggested that we start with forming public amenities where all level of men and women, the young and the old can integrate and co-exist. Public libraries, eateries, recreational centre, gyms, playgrounds, parks and health clinics. To build a pluralistic society is paramount because without it, we lose the essence of education and democracy: the power of free expression.

IFTAR WITH CHEF WAN

We didn't know we had it in us.

Being the committee members for the Berbuka Puasa with Datuk Chef Wan event held at Westin KL last Saturday, we initially thought it was just going to be another private small gathering with Datuk Chef Wan (DCW), just like the first one we had when we organised a private luncheon with DCW with some of his Facebook fans on February at Sheraton Imperial.

But we later found out that it turned out to be almost just the opposite.

DCW wanted to make a donation to any deserving orphanage during the Ramadan month. That was the message and that was the plan. So, we thought a nice berbuka puasa gathering would be pleasant. Not wanting to waste any time, our chief organisers, Cempaka Sari and Shaik, started to put things in perspective.

From groundwork had turned into a grinding work. DCW, and we all couldn't agree more, wanted to make donations to a truly deserving orphanage, one that has slipped the eyes of the community, or better yet, the yang berhormats. He didn't want to give to a decorated orphanage. The government and pow-wow organisations already got them covered. Shaik then stumbled upon Pusat Jagaan Rumah Kesayangan in PJ where he thinks fits the bill of a needy orphanage.

Then, came the dealing with the hotel over the banquet room and the banquet itself. Ms Sherlyn of Westin was as accommodating and attentive as she is cute. Very comel! (Pictured here is moi and Cempaka in a meeting over lunch with Ms Sherlyn). Her professionalism (and of course, the imposing Westin fee) made the arrangements breezier. Breezier than getting the pax in.

You see, we decided to sell tickets at RM320 for Platinum table and RM190 for Silver. There should be a Gold table in between but we decided to scrap it because we realised that people either go for the Platinum or the Silver. The price includes a free DCW recipe booklet for Silver guests while the Platinum will get DCW's latest hardcover cookbook worth RM100++ (Pictured left). It was hard selling the seats initially, some got turned off by the price methinks. As DCW wanted it to be a private affair, we only advertised the event via Facebook. We got hundreds of "Attending" but almost half actually made it to paying.

Then came the pooling of sponsors. It was a toughie in the first place but once people found out that DCW was a part of it, things started pouring in. DCW was our leverage, our selling point. And sooner, we got Ayamas to sponsor the goodie bags. So did Felda, Legend Hotel and few others. Even us, some of the committee members chipped in for the kids' goodie bags and clearly realising now that it's so much fun giving than it is taking.

And Shaik, well, he had turned on his charm on a very influential woman (not to be named here) to donate a bomb to Rumah Kesayangan. Not only this generous lady sent packets and packets of rice, milo, cooking oil and what not directly to the orphanage, she also contributed baskets of goodies, toys and stuff for each and every kid during the event. God bless her kind soul.

Just days before the event, we were suddenly bombarded with people wanting to buy seats, despite the fact that we only had few left. Westin only managed to give us a smaller room and not the ballroom as we had wanted. With a stage for DCW to conduct the cooking demo and an extra space for his tablesetting workshop, we could only fit 9 banquet tables the most. Though it was tempting to take in more people, we half-heartedly had to decline. We shall not be too greedy about it as there's always next year.

The event day started pretty calm and smoothly, the committee members came right on time as well as the goodie bags from Ayamas. But halfway through the afternoon, it turned rather peckish.

Guests failed to arrive on time, possibly because of the horrendous Saturday pre-Raya traffic, and to make matters worse, it rained real hard. A good combo to raise all hell on the road. There is only one sure thing that can stop traffic in downtown KL, and it's not Siti Nurhaliza. All KayAliens know that when it pours in KL, especially on a weekend, cars either go on a standstill or go into each other. And when that happens, you can even knit a sweater behind the wheel before you finally reach your destination, hopefully with enough sanity to last through the littlest hours left of the day.

Chef himself was very late indeed but his is a different case. The man just touched down from Hong Kong earlier that afternoon. As a result, we had to make drastic changes to the plans. We had to shift the book signing session after breaking fast, and that could only mean on thing. DCW had to cut his mealtime shorter to accommodate the signing session. Oy.

And oh, did I mentioned that the event was from 3pm to 10pm?

What we thought was to become a catastrophe, had only been a mere hiccup. The moment DCW arrived, we were on overdrive. Guests started to breathe life again and I miraculously cheated hyperventilating.

DCW, knowing all to well how late he was, didn't fumble. He never was I suppose. He doesn't look like the person who would fumble when arriving late. He was calm and glowing and did not show a single dark circle. In the holding room, he was apologetic and was telling us about how he had to rush to Bangsar to have his hair washed, while I was busy admiring his skin and feeling a tad jealous. DCW, despite his salt n' pepper hair, he seemed to be defying age.

While not wasting precious time away, DCW breezed into the banquet room and took the floor by storm! DCW never fails when it comes to entertaining his audience. No one dared to question their money spent when it involves DCW. His cooking prowess charmed with his amazing oratory skills made it all worthwile. His energy was contagious, cleverly injecting life into guests who had entirely forgot about the hours of waiting with not a single drop of water to quench their thirst (remember its Ramadan) or to drain the time away.

DCW was as fresh as spring and vivacious as always. He knows when to get real personal with his audiences and he does it so animatedly that one can never take it to the heart other than laugh it off so hard that one's teeth can fall out. And for us to be able to organise an event with him and meet and talk with him on a casual basis was a privilege indeed. As for me, who had emceed two events with DCW, it was probably the breeziest emceeing task I had ever conducted. No need for stiff formal words and toeing my line ever so carefully. DCW brings and aura of simpleness and laid-back mood to an event. No need for breaking-of-ice session as it was never icy when DCW is in the picture. It was always warm and bubbly and fun. (Pictured left: Note how the girls all looked up at DCW. They must've been so amused by him and probably wondered, "hmm...pakcik ni macam penah nampak la... kat mana ek?")

The kids from Rumah Kesayangan, all 32 of them and two guardians, arrived slightly later in the evening and boy, they were beautiful kids. Obedient, cultured and simply adorable. They took their seats quietly and enjoyed the rest of the evening filled with fun, food and fares.

And that was how the whole event turned out to be.

Despite the rain that delayed some of the arrivals, despite the minor glitches that almost turned Cempaka into a lion, despite my bloody shoes gave me bunions overnight, and despite all odds, we made it! It may not be an event of the century, but it was fulfilling as it was successful.

Successful because the guests stuck with us from noon to night. Successful because the kids from Rumah Kesayangan had a rewarding and an enjoyable experience. Successful because sponsors came pouring in more than we ever expected. Successful because it brought us committee members closer than ever. But most of all...

Successful because the event alone had raised RM33,000 not including toys and other donations in kinds!


While we thank everyone for the brilliant success of the Berbuka Puasa with Chef Wan event, it Datuk Chef Wan himself that we truly owe our gratitude and humbleness because the event wouldnt be an event if it wasn't for him. He was responsible for luring in the sponsors and brought some of his generous friends.
It's a delightful feeling indeed that we had shared in bringing some light to the kids and guardians at Rumah Kesayangan. Hopefully, this event will be the start of all things beautiful and brings out the spirit of giving.

If I may, this was taken from DCW Facebook wall post on Sunday:

"Alhamdulilah Thanks to Cempaka,Shaik as well as the entire team for assisting me to raised the fund for the kids at the Westin Hotel yesterday afternoon straight from arriving dari Hongkong.We managed to raised Rm33,000.00 plus alot of food stuff as well as toys for the kids and once again thank u to all the generous sponsors and the organising team.Jangan serik tahun depan kita mesti buat lagi ok!God bless u all.Amin."

To the committee members - Cempaka Sari, Shaik Firdaus, Shahimah (yours truly), Mastura, Lufia, Bokhari a.k.a. Bobo, Karma Yusof, and Shaik's Angels - I think we truly deserve a nice pat on our backs! Jom, celebrate!

For infor on Pusat Jagaan Rumah Kesayangan, browse http://pusatjagaanyatim.blogspot.com/2010/03/pusat-jagaan-rumah-kesayangan.html

STOP MEDDLING!

Go to hell!

Yes, that's what exactly I would say to those 50 Australian politicians who had sent a memorandum to our Malaysian embassy in Canberra telling us to drop the sodomy charge against PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

I don't get it. Why are they meddling in the justice and political issues of other countries? Malaysia is a Commonwealth country and last time I checked, so is Australia. So do they not understand the common law that we share saying that one do not have the lawful right to ask the other what and how it should be done unless we asked for their intervention? I don't remember we ever asked for their opinion. Maybe they're just acting benign and not afraid to reveal their utter foolishness.

Forgive me for I have no kind words for our fellow Commonwealth counterpart as far as this issue is concerned. To meddle in an ongoing court case, especially involving a high-profile politician, is totally unbecoming of them. The Australian politicians involved in sending out the protests should know better than to act foolishly to comment on issues that they are totally devoid of its details and full breadth of the said case. Even us Malaysians are still in the dark whether Anwar sodomised his personal assistant or not let alone telling the courts to completely drop the case. So what makes the Aussie politicians think that they know better?

How would they feel if our politicians started telling the Australian government what they should do about the countless attacks on Indians in Australia? Was it based on racism and if so, aren't the government doing anything to protect the safety and security of the minorities there? Or how about the hundreds of years of marginalisation of the Aboriginal community who have and will be sidelined by the so-called fair and justice government of Australia? Shall we send our protest also asking the Aussie authorities drop the case against few Malaysians who are undergoing trial or maybe release some from Aussie prisons?

My guess is that these Australian politicians has little else to do than desperately trying to throw their weight around across the region without realising that their nation is full of its own faults and flaws. We Malaysians may have our own grouses and reservations surrounding the sodomy case against Anwar Ibrahim but we prefer to let the courts do all the work, as it should be lest the Aussies forget, to prove the rights against the wrongs. And we would expect the Australian government to share the same sentiment and let our hard working laywers and judges do their job without the interference of bullies such as that of the 50 Australian politicians.

Could this be a case of a kettle calling the pot black or maybe just another case of nosy foreign politicians who have left their brains 'down under'? For me, it's both.

Take 2:

1. Top BN and PR politicians cleared of graft: Read the lines carefully. MACC said they were cleared because of insufficient evidence. Does this means that the politicians are dirty but not dirty enough to be charged in court?

2. MCA squabbles: Please, either resolve or dissolve. Easier said than done, I know, but does anyone have any other digestable solution?

3. Higher salary scheme for police: The hike is, well, justifiable. Maybe we all have our very own grievances with the police but it might, I repeat, it might serve as a morale boost for these law enforcers to do what they are paid to do. For the fact that they risked their lives (and their families') for the nation, so okay, they do deserve it. I say, extend it to the army, navy and firefighters also.

4. Teachers complaining about police's salary hike: *yawn*

5. Alleged terrorist activities on Sabah waters: I'm in two minds over whether it is true or not but police and ministry should not take any chances and play down the issue.

6. MP Zahrain quits: It's his right to quit. If he's fed up with MB Lim Guan Eng, then surely Lim also fed up with Zahrain, so its a win-win situation. Or rather a lose-lose situation.

7. Raja Petra's son alleged suicide attempt: Poor kid. Forget what he did that earned him a prison cell or that he's the son of Malaysia's most elusive wanted man but Raja Azman must've been in such a depressive state that swallowing a razor blade and cutting his wrist seem to be the easiest way for him to end his sufferings. Seriously, I pity him.

8. Anwar's sodomy trial: Where do I begin and where to draw the line...

9. Saiful's (the sodomised 'victim') death threat: No surprises here.

10. Sodomy trial, KL doctors say there was no penetration: Huh?

11. Voters registration: It was reported that 4.39 million, or one-third of eligible Malaysians have yet to register. Staggering revelation indeed. Typical. You give them the right, they shirk it. Deny them the right, they'll shout for it. So, what gives?

My very brief take on current issues: Take 1

There are times, I'm just fed up to give long comments or brag about how I feel about certain issues that touch on the lives of us Malaysians. There's a lot of ridiculous things going on and when one can easily pass the buck to our politicians for, well, politicising just about everything under the sun, I couldn't deny that the people, who are not politicians themselves, are not making living under the sun any much easier.

They say that politicians are like dogs. They bark and bark without ever knowing what they're barking about, but how about us, the ordinary layman who enjoys echoing the barkings? How about those who go spicing it up thus blowing all things out of proportion leaving most of the innocent bystanders to gape and trying to decipher what the hell was that all about.

Anyways, lest that I would fall into the spicing up category, let me just express how I feel for the many issues that makes it into the pages of our newspaper in the most shortest way possible:

1. Using the name "Allah" issue: Don't agree with High Court's ruling and if we can't find any amicable solution to this, then just drop the bloody issue once and for all!

2. High performance schools: Its blatantly unfair! We should not polarise the young ones with being selective as who should get more than who. I say the RM1m annually per high-performance school should be distributed to the so many under privileged schools throughout the country.

3. Penang Pakatan feud: Datuk Seri Zahrain outburst to Lim Guan Eng was funny. Personally, Lim got what he deserved. DAP chairman Chow had said that Zahrain was wrong but even if the guy had erred in his actions to say such things, then surely something is definitely WRONG somewhere that such squabbles had been conjured up. As they say in Malay, "kalau tak ada angin masakan pokok bergoyang". True or not?

4. Suspension of Khalid Samad by PAS: Serves him right for being a foul-mouthed prick. Period.

5. Arrest of six Nigerians over suspected links with al-Qaeda terrorist: WTF!!! But kudos to our speedy arrest by our enforcement team. Good job guys!

6. Adukataruna seditious blog remarks: Hang him!

7. Throwing of pigs head at 2 mosques: F*&$#@ *&!#@ &^$#) $#*^ $#%$@! ?+)%$#@!!!!!!

8. Churches arson: same answer as No. 7

9. Carot and stick for govt servants: You mean to tell me that after all these years that there was not carot and stick at all? Well that explains everything.

10. Maid abuse: *sigh*

11. Tiger Woods trysts and sex eaddiction: Who cares! Leave that guy alone. So what if he has a slightly higher libido than any other man out there, no need to be jealous and harp on the issue.

12. Malaysian music and movie industry: Not interested.

There you go. These are just some of the issues that had grabbed my attention whether I care about it or not. Hopefully the next paper that I grab would contain happy issues and that some of the issues highlighted above can be resolved quickly so we Malaysians can start bracing ourselves for the next.