tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49943777796710302682024-03-14T15:48:36.502+00:00EMW.dineEast Meet West
Private Dining Club
for those who enjoy food, drink, relaxation, culture and the artsHoward Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-32058504782746458962012-04-21T06:50:00.002+01:002012-04-21T06:54:32.695+01:00illegal electioneering...by BN?? or who???<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-MY</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>ZH-CN</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> 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mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-line-height: 115%">Media Statement by Howard Lee on 20<sup>th</sup> April 2012 at IPD Ipoh.</span></i></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family: "Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >It has been brought to DAP’s attention that there are some information leaflets of a defamatory nature being circulated throughout Perak.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There has been several issues over the last few months,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>are double-sided and in full colour of A3 size, in Chinese and carries the name ‘EXPRESS NEWS’. (</span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:SimSun; mso-ascii-font-family:Times-Roman;mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;mso-hansi-font-family:Times-Roman;mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" lang="ZH-CN" >快讯</span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >Furthermore, the said leaflets are in clear contravention of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the Print, Press and Publications Act 1984 Part 5 which stipulates that every publication printed or published within Malaysia shall have printed legibly in Bahasa Malaysia or the English language on its first or last leaf the name and address of its printer and publisher. The contravention of this section on conviction, is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to both.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family: "Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family: "Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >The said leaflets have allegedly reached the letterboxes of over 10000 households throughout Perak. The said leaflets also contains misleading and politically spun misrepresentations tantamount to political defamation of DAP and several of its leaders.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >In one of the issues, an article makes a baseless accusation of Penang<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>2nd deputy chief Minster Professor Ramasamy as an appointment ‘in name but not in power’. This<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>rings clear that those behind the dissemination and publication of the leaflets<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>are doing so to incite racial hatred and social disharmony. DAP unequivocally condemns this backward and archaic social and political idealogy.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >There was also an incident recently reported that a distributor of one of said leaflets in Ayer Tawar, was openly defaming the chairman and secretary of DAP Perak, calling them ‘Christian extremists’. This is completely unethical and unacceptable electioneering. </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family: "Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family: "Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >This is clear indication that there are certain quarters making an orchestrated and well funded effort in spreading lies to deceive the public. As Perakians have shown their eagerness and urgency to topple BN in the coming elections to return governing power to Pakatan Rakyat, these quarters are resorting to cowardly deceit and unlawful dissemination of information to discredit DAP. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >Of late, DAP has been a victim of defamation, and been the subject of outright lies from both reputable as well as unknown publishers. With the imminent 13th General election touted to be as early as June, it would come as no surprise that the Perak BN would do everything they can to continue their illegitimate rule that they snatched from PR and the rakyat of Perak. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >As the Election preparation director of DAP Perak, I am today launching a police report, urging the authorities to investigate the abovementioned offence. I would also like to issue the following:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >A challenge to all BN component parties, and their strategists and machinery to deny openly their hand directly or indirectly in this heinous electioneering campaign</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >A challenge to all BN component parties to join DAP in openly condemning the dissemination of these leaflets and the messages within. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size:100%;" >A challenge to MCA and Gerakan to assure Perakians that they will not employ lowly tactics such as inciting racial tensions to achieve their political agenda.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -18pt; line-height: normal; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;" ><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font-weight: bold;">·</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Times-Roman","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;" > </span></p> <p class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:SimSun;mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;mso-hansi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-style: italiccolor:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >民主行动党霹雳州竞选主任李存孝于</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-bidi-font-style: italiccolor:#2A2A2A;" >2012</span><span style="font-family:SimSun; mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-style:italiccolor:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >年</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-style:italiccolor:#2A2A2A;" >4</span><span style="font-family:SimSun;mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;mso-hansi-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-style: italiccolor:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >月</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;mso-bidi-font-style:italiccolor:#2A2A2A;" >20</span><span style="font-family:SimSun;mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style:italiccolor:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >日(星期五)在怡保中央警局所发表的新闻稿:</span></p> <p class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:SimSun;mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;mso-hansi-Times New Roman";color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >一些诽谤性的资讯传单近日被分发到霹雳州各处是受到民主行动党的关注。快讯在这几月刊登几项课题,是双面印刷成</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:#2A2A2A;" >A3</span><span style="font-family:SimSun;mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-Times New Roman";color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >彩色版。</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;color:#2A2A2A;" ></span></p> <p class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:SimSun;mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;mso-hansi-Times New Roman";color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >上述传单已明显违反《</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:#2A2A2A;" >1984</span><span style="font-family:SimSun; mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-Times New Roman";color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >年印刷及出版法令》第</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:#2A2A2A;" >5</span><span style="font-family:SimSun;mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-Times New Roman";color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >条文,该条文阐明,任何在国内印刷及出版的刊物必须合法拥有该出版者的国文或英文的名字及地址在传单的首页或尾页。一旦违反该项条文,可将被定罪,被判的最高刑罚是不超过一年监禁或罚款不超过马币五千零吉或两者兼施。</span><span style="color:#2A2A2A;"></span></p> <p class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:SimSun;mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;mso-hansi-Times New Roman";color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >据称,上述传单已被分发到霹雳州一万住户的信箱,而且内容含有误导性及扭曲政治事实的内容,相符于向民主行动党及其数位领袖发出的政治诽谤。</span><span style="color:#2A2A2A;"></span></p> <p style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:SimSun; mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-Times New Roman";color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >其中一项课题包括,一则文章作出毫无根据的指控,声称槟城第二副首席部长拉玛三美博士的委任是徒有虚名、毫无权力。显然的,印刷及派发传单的幕后人士在煽动种族仇恨及社会的不和谐。民主行动党毫不犹豫地严重谴责这些背后陈旧的社会及政治思想。</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:#2A2A2A;" ></span></p> <p style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:SimSun; mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-Times New Roman";color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >据称,传单的其中一位派发者还在爱大华公开诽谤民主行动党霹雳州主席及秘书为</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; color:#2A2A2A;" >“</span><span style="font-family:SimSun;mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-Times New Roman";color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >基督极端分子</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;color:#2A2A2A;" >”</span><span style="font-family:SimSun;mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-Times New Roman"; color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >。这是完全不道德及不被接受的竞选方式。</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="color:#2A2A2A;"> </span><span style="color:#2A2A2A;"></span></p> <p class="ecxmsonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;font-family:";color:#2A2A2A;" lang="ZH-CN" >这清楚地显示,某方面在充足的资金下,正精心策划地向人民散播政治谎言,因霹雳州人民已表明他们的渴望性及紧迫性,以在来临的全国大选推翻国阵政府,恢复民联的执政权力。该方面的怯懦欺骗及违法散播资讯是为了抹黑民主行动党。</span><span style="mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; font-family:SimSun;color:#2A2A2A;" ></span></p>Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-88909740500340199442012-04-07T10:10:00.005+01:002012-04-08T00:54:08.542+01:00Reply to Perak MCA secretary Datuk Tan 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mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:ZH-TW;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Dato’ Tan,</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(writer's words in black, and Datuk Tan Chin Meng's article in red)<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I respect your courage in speaking what you think, and expressing how you feel. I welcome your continued input in the arena of opinions that makes us Malaysian proud that we are all accepting of pluralistic discourse. Tahniah.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But quite frankly I think that your opinion is at best limp; and at worst … not worth mentioning..</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">It is truly unreal how naïve and gormless some people get, when they are blinded by their inherited and indoctrinated political ideas that they fail to see their own contradictions. I’m often stuck between pitying and being angered by some of our fellow countrymen and countrywomen, who in this case (and most others) I am specifically referring to BN, <span style=""> </span>MCA members. For the sake of ease, I will explain this whilst replying to Tan Chin Meng’s pitiful article a few days ago. </p> <p><span style="color:red;">Pakatan Rakyat Perak state assemblymen are trying to gain votes and pushing the blame away from themselves over the Vale SA iron ore distribution centre and palletising plant project in Teluk Rubiah, Manjung by claiming that the Barisan Nasional state government is not protecting the environment and dismissing the health of the people.</span><span style="color:red;"></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i style="">By the way, before I start, a friendly advice from a little nobody like me may go a long way sometimes. VALE is building a PELLETISING plant… not palletising plant. I don’t think Mr Neves would be very happy if your good for nothing government only approved their plans to be a palletising plant…</i></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i style="">So are you saying that allowing an iron ore <b style="">pelletising</b> plant <span style=""> </span>with no publicly aired plans to limit environmental damage, and to neutralising hundreds of thousands of ringgit worth of touristic beautification IS</i> <span style=""> </span>protecting the environment and <span style=""> </span>NOT dismissing the health of the people.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I hate to tell you this Dato’, you really ought to stop shooting yourself in the foot. I’m starting to get sympathy pains on your behalf… Kesian…</p> <p><i style=""><span style="color:black;"> </span></i></p> <p><i style=""><span style="color:black;"> </span></i></p> <p><span style="color:red;">However, the facts speak for themselves, and it has been made clear during the state’s legislative assembly sitting that former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin had signed a support letter for the project thus revealing Pakatan Rakyat’s lies and attempts to discredit the BN state government.</span><span style="color:red;"></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And if <span style=""> </span>Dato’ Tan and his not quite so honourable chums in MCA, UMNO and BN can differentiate a supporting letter from and invitation-to-trade, from one CEO to another, we won’t be wasting the precious time of Perakians on such a heinous lie spun by Zambry.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Yes indeed, the facts do speak for themselves, and something has been made very clear in the state assembly; Zambry is well versed at peddling half truths and is a blatant liar. <span style=""> </span>The UMNO BN government have little credit to take in the first place, so yours truly here, and Pakatan leaders have little to DIS-credit.</p> <p><span style="color:red;"> </span></p> <p><span style="color:red;"> </span></p> <p><span style="color:red;">Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Zambry Kadir has revealed the true face of Pakatan Rakyat by declassifying this confidential document proving that Pakatan Rakyat had attempted to hide the scandal by pushing the blame to BN while they claim to protect the interest of the people of Perak.</span><span style="color:red;"></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">So let’s not insult the intelligence of the rakyat here. Lets say Dato’ Tan decides to tell the world that I’m an MCA sympathiser. All he needs to do is just black out everything in this letter apart from the first paragraph, and my signature on the bottom, and publish it in the press. </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">All he needs is copy of my NRIC, a forged signature, and Hey PRESTO! Howard Lee is the next proud member of MCA. </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">That’s what Zambry did with this whole saga, isn’t it? I doubt there’ll be many who would beg to differ.</p> <p><strong><span style="color:red;">Double standards</span></strong><span style="color:red;"></span></p> <p><span style="color:red;">When Pakatan Rakyat was in control of the Perak state government, they had issued a letter of support welcoming Brazilian mining giant Vale SA. However, when Barisan Nasional recovered Perak, Pakatan started to discriminate against BN by practising double-standards over many issues and completely forgetting about the people’s welfare simply because they were focusing too much on advancing their own political interests.</span><span style="color:red;"></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Dato’ Tan. I really feel sorry for you. The audacity you employ here is so silly, it’s beginning to resemble a badly written comedy of errors. </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Using the phrase ‘recovered Perak’ isn’t going to make an illegal power grab any less legal; any more glamorous; any less disgusting that it actually is; and certainly not going to garner you any more than one measly seat in the state assembly. No one from BN Perak has the right to talk about double standards and discrimination as the very fact that you’re still in the state assembly, let alone your being in the seat of government is the mother of all double standards. </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Do I even need to touch on advancing political agendas? Surely on that subject, <span style=""> </span>nothing beats a political coup d’etat that involves physically dragging a speaker of his chair and locking him in a room…</p> <p><span style="color:red;">Their way of thinking is completely illogical, constantly changing their stands over the simplest issues. Pakatan can be described as a two-faced, ‘wishful-thinking’ political party as they constantly bring up the subject on how they were not allowed to complete their long-term political plans to solve the troubles faced by the people.</span><span style="color:red;"></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">HELLO!!! Earth to Dato’ Tan!!</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Pakatan Rakyat EXCO started off offering Tanjung Hantu. They were never in a position to offer Teluk Rubiah. That’s the prerogative of Harta Makmur Sdn Bhd. As it’s a PRIVATE LAND! Up until now, Pakatan are still maintaining the stance of Tanjung Hantu being the first choice. As to the rest of that paragraph, I really have no idea to what you are referring to and what you’re trying to say. </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Please, allow me the honour of inviting you to list your examples of Pakatan Rakyat being so-called two-faced and wishful-thinking. Just let me start this invitation to dialogue with an example of your party’s two faced, flip-flop-u-turning, constant-mind changing stance: MCA on Lynas. Say no more….</p> <p><span style="color:red;">I urge Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen to abandon their old outdated political thinking in this 1Malaysia era where the people come first and the state government is supposed to implement policies which benefit the people.</span></p> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Outdated eh? Pre-independence: the British split us up to Malay areas, Chinese areas, Indian Areas. We were conquered as we were divided. Geographic segregation bred cultural and racial animosity. Our national founding fathers didn’t like that. That was pre-independence. Today, BN is still segregated by race. Your coalition’s very existence is itself a testament of outdated political and social thinking….. So spare me the strength of my fingers and the calories that my brain metabolises by processing the stupid contradiction you just badly made.</span>Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-53154398495255563132011-08-16T12:06:00.001+01:002011-08-16T12:09:39.067+01:00The Turning Wheel of Democracy: The story behind the scenes of the NO to Tmn Kemuncak Land Conversion Campaign-<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-MY</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>ZH-CN</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> 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Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Kah Woh was first engaged by Teresa on the issue, at a breakneckingly swift speed when she first found out about the planning application. Kah Woh was also rather expedient in the speed in which he drafted the petition introduction. The momentum was carried on almost at the speed of professional pressure groups and the efficiency of seasoned lobbyist, by Teresa, under the support and assistance of many more local residents.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">At this juncture, there were some very bold, yet underhanded political maneuverings made by certain quarters, in an attempt to ‘hijack’ the issue in claiming it their own. I shall remain cryptic on this issue as those who understands what I’m writing here, can have a little chuckle at the failure of those undignified and cheeky attempts, at seeking glory without contribution.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This was when I had the privilege of meeting with Teresa, when I was immediately touched by her sincerity, assertiveness and focused manner. Moreover, it was the underlying modesty behind her courageous actions that made me work harder with her in making the petition-signing and submission a success. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Signatures came in like hot cakes, and the petition was on track for<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a respectable number <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>well ahead of schedule. More importantly, what started off as 3-4 letters sent to specific addresses, in the space of 10 days or so, had transformed in to the hot topic discussed by everyone in the entire Ipoh Garden East. Those who knew about it were talking about it; and those who didn’t know about were more than likely being told about it. So, hats off to those who were involved in the dissemination of the message; a big thank you to those did the leg work of canvassing door to door for signatures; and heartfelt acknolwedgements to the likes of Teresa, Alan, Rajiv who kicked off the debate initially. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Like many operators within political folds, I have a multitude of opinions on most topics ad issues I come across. They normally conflict, which is great for academic and political purposes, as it presents the decision making mechanisms more choice, not to mention an ‘objectivity cushion’ for the debater to bounce around unscathed . This availability of choice though, does become a burden upon one’s own conscience and peace of mind as it become very difficult to decide upon a personal stance when the issue at hand affects one’s own life.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">It can be said that I’m one of the many affected residents and my wife and I live in Taman Perak. As usual, I can see the many positive arguments and negative arguments in allowing or disallowing the planning application. Sometime, when deliberating within my own on an definitive stance on an issue, my mind goes off on very crazy tangents and almost always end up maiing some kind of political point out of the issue at hand…. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(can’t guarantee this won’t happen here</span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;" lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;" >J</span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Before I share with you my vote on the issue, I’d just like to share with you some of my thoughts thorugh my insignificant involvement in getting the ball rolling with the NO campaign...</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">The main arguments bouncing around the walls of Kopitiams, as well as on the wall of the facebook group is that the residents don’t want to ‘live near the dead’, or ‘be near a place full of death’. Others are citing their dissatisfaction towards the prospective increase in traffic into the area, in the case of the proposal being realized. Some are speculating the drop in the value of their property and others’ in the area if and when the colambarium/crematorium is built.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">All of the above are valid arguments against the application. I wouldn’t say any of them are particular strong arguments, but nonetheless, they are how the residents feel and that’s that. A<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>vote by a big strong muscular healthy man, isn’t any more or less of a vote than a skinny, short and fat and ill man. In fact, by going down that chain of thought, the needn’t even be a reason for one’s support or objection of the application. But I’d like to take this opportunity to articulate my personal reasons.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Here goes;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Despite the fact that the proposed project will affect all houses and shops which happen to be en-route to the proposed site when entering the area from all major routes, only 3-4 house were informed of the application.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That to me, as a resident who lives one of several routes that will DEFINITELY be affected in more ways than the obvious increase in traffic, is a blatant disregard of the importance of public consent. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Furthermore, If I’m not mistaken, the city councilor appointed to the area would also have been informed. Why did the residents contact Kah Woh instead of the city councilor for assistance as this is within the remit of the city council? More pressingly, why did the councilor not proactively seek feedback on the issue? And VERY importantly, how do we hold the councilor to account for not performing adequately or sufficiently in the proceedings of pushing for the residents agenda on the matter in hand.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Yes…. Lots of questions, isn’t there? But to me, that’s a good thing. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Insufficiency in the required publicity for planning applications</span></u></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Yes, I realize that according to the planning regulations and legislations, what has been done is well and legally sufficient. That to me doesn’t give the application any more credence, it simply means tthat there are holes in the current legislations and regulations, and naturally need to be CHANGED.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">My suggestion is, for a development (very loosely used term for this situation) of this scale and of such geo-social-political impact and sensitivity, there needs to be a much wider public notice mechanism involved in the consent seeking process. With it being a residential area, and therefore full of lamp-posts, how about having a laminated A4 sheet of paper, with a summary of the application cable tied to one in every 3 lamppost.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On said summary, it will include details of how to support or object the application. It’s obvious why it’s better, and how it’s better. Every affected will have a much better chance of findng out, and therefore supporting or objecting the project. Greater transparency, with much better community communications; It’s a win-win proposal.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Yes, it’s a great deal more administration than is legally required by the town and country planning act 1976 but I genuinely feel that<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>it’s absolutely crucial. If it wasn’t for the extremely enthusiastic and assertive, not to mention highly efficient way in which Teresa and her neighbours<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>set the right things in motions and placed it in the hands of the right people, the NO campaign wouldn’t see the support it’s enjoying right now. </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Holding councilors to task</span></u></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">The economic system that we live in, dictates that everyone who is financially compensated for a service, duty or task must be held to account for his/her performance. Failing that, would mean individuals being paid to do nothing, or worst still, being paid to do the opposite of what they’re supposed to do. That’s bad in any country!</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Politics should be the same as any other profession or sector of service. We claim to live in a democratic system, with the different levels of legislative assemblies and representation. In Ipoh, there’s the Ipoh city council, the the Perak State Assembly,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the federal Parliament, and the Upper house of Senate. Sounds like quite a robust system of lawmaking, and public interest assurance right? Let me just make the following points;</span></i></p> <ul><li><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi- mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Calibri;" lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Ipoh City Councillors are all political appointments. </span></i></li><li><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi- mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Calibri;" lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">The Perak state assembly is chaired by an unelected individual who got there unconstitutionally, and the state executive(government) started this parliamentary term as opposition and have gotten into power without being re-elected. All in all, pretty unconstitutional!</span></i></li><li><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi- mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Calibri;" lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">The current head of the current federal government, also didn’t start the current parliamentary cycle as our prime minister. He inherited it from either his father, or Tun Adbullah Badawi, depending on how deep you want to dwell.</span></i></li><li><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi- mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-USfont-family:Calibri;" lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">The upper house of the Federal legislature are also all political appointment.</span></i></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Not so robust and not so democratic after all, is it? At least not here in Ipoh. </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Returning to holding councilors to account, it think it’s unfair to blame the councilor directly and entirely for not doing the job. A big part of it is to do with the system, which allows incompetent individuals to be appointed to play an integral role in serving and representing the residents in matters within the remit of the city council.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">The solution is simple: Restore the third vote. </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">At least, by experiencing the difficulties,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>it has highlighted things that we can bring to the fore to be discussed and suggested. The outcome of those discussions then will and can be put forward for our elected legislative representatives to propose so for it to be debated, and passed through the legislature to become law….. This is democracy at work!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">And oh, If I haven’t made it clear enough, MY VOTE IS A NO to the land use conversion!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"> </span></p> Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-75301229119720218662011-08-09T15:58:00.003+01:002011-08-10T16:59:07.155+01:00Part 1: a study on the approaches of PDRM and the Metropolitans police<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-MY</w:LidThemeOther> 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name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">30 days ago, in Kuala Lumpur, tear gas, water cannons, the army, different police units, were deployed under the orders of the government to deter, suppress and ultimately stop an organized, peaceful march organized by civil groups, to highlight irregularities and serious flaws in Malaysia’s electoral system. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Weeks leading up to the march, Yellow items of clothing were blanket-ly banned, huge numbers were arrested; on the day itself, water cannons were used, <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>tear gas canisters were thrown into open as well as enclosed spaces, including the compound of a fully functioning hospital to name but a few, <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>but still 50,000 peaceful marchers turned up. Many were injured, one was killed, a message was hopefully sent. No satisfactory answers have been given.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">In London 30 days later, what started off being a peaceful protest by a very small group of local residents who were seeking answers to the death of an individual purportedly caused by the police, spiraled out of control. Youths turned rioters and looters, rode on the wave of discontent to instigate a series of anarchistic attacks on buildings and individuals the following night. The third and last night, saw the peak of a three night long crescendo of riots, with 13 different towns and settlements within the greater London area seeing extreme violence in the forms of opportunistic looting, entire blocks of buildings being set on fire, people being physically attacked and robbed… what I’ve mentioned is far from being exhaustive…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">What happened?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Regular sirens of ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles maybe part of the standard package in most London hotels; and no doubt is inclusive within the inventory of fixtures and fittings if you choose to rent or buy a property in London. It goes without saying, a heightened awareness of your immediate personal space, and a slightly increase base heartrate (…at all times) , and a needless to mention increased level of tetchiness, confrontational behavior, and fear of something bad happening etc etc etc ar all side effects of living in London.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Maybe I’m being a little doom and gloom here. Surely it can’t be any worse than any capital city? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">What about the tolerant, multicultural, multinational, creative, cohesive, expressive and most of all PEACEFUL<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>face of the city of London. All the aforementioned were available by the bucket loads… except for the the very last, capitalized and italisiced face. I, along with I’m sure millions of Brits and otherwise, who live in the UK, and have access to a TV saw scenes unfold that would only previously be seen on TV screens.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">But last night, it was for real. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">The sirens were loud and unrelenting; the calls by the Met Police acting commissioner to ‘clear the streets’, ‘ask the children to go home’, were spin chilling; the images of burning buildings and hoody’ied youths<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>throwing heavy things against breakable things and looting to boot were scary; and the thought of innocent, law abiding, and until very recently <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>peaceful lives being torn apart right before my eyes, not to mention it being only 4-5 tube stops away from where I was, was nothing nothing short of gut wrenching.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">All this aside, what was at the forefront o my mind was an intensely uncomfortable debate unfolding as rapidly as the locations being broken on BBC news 24 to be the next affected by riots. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">One side of my mind was asking : Why are water cannons, tear gas and more aggressive, if not more assertive force used? Surely the risk of political fall-out and a few injuries of thugs and criminals are negligible collateral damage to protect the livelihoods of people whose property and possessions are being destroyed, burnt down and looted? It doesn’t matter, how great the greater good is, and what political or social implications might be in stall, suppressing violence with equal force, to make an example of those who have offended is and best strategy for containment and prevention. And more importantly, stopping whats in front of our eyes that is stoppable, is more important that any philosophical argument. Some one’s gotto have the balls to make that call, surely!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">How come the Malaysian police used watercannons and tear gas so readily with peaceful protesters, but the Metropolitan police wouldn’t move past the passive tactics which is allowing buildings to be burnt down and peoples’ lives being destroyed?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">The other side of my mind was objecting loudly and vehemently:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Apart from the political arguments that even the lowest grade of political spin doctors would see and obviously use, it’s a much deeper question at stake here. Firstly, the police needed to contain the situation and prevent it from getting even more widespread that it already has. Countering the violence with more violence would be a louder call-to-arms and more fuel for the ‘fence sitting’ potential anarchists out there, to take that leap of faith and tunr their anger into action. Furthermore, an untouched record of being a tolerant, civilized society who seeks the continuation of peace only thorugh peace, and a sudden U turn to suppress violence with further violence is essentially allowing years, even decades of social and political evolution to go up in flames. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">To be continued….</span></p> Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-32970330468890133422011-08-05T14:37:00.002+01:002011-08-05T14:40:34.616+01:00Is our fundamental right to vote a bread and butter issue?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:ZH-TW;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">I shan't say much here but I’d like to clarify a few key points after reading this healthy exchange. Whilst I'm all for raising policy issues, as those who have been involved with me will know too well, I feel that it certainly wouldn't hurt in highlighting the failures and ailments that plague and divide our people. I say this with all the sincerity, aiming at all and everyone who sit on both sides in the middle of the divide that is only far too apparent.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I see in your profile that you subscribe to the Liberal democrats of the UK. We share that in common. I remember speaking to Simon Hughes, one of the national leaders of the Lib Dems when he came to help me campaign in the constituency that I was standing in as a candidate. We were discussing the then pending voting system referendum in the UK and he told me this:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">The legislature is figurative skull of society, which contains the brain, which can be represented by the elected representatives.<span style=""> </span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">The electoral system is the chest, which houses the lungs. We know that the lungs processes the air that we breath, which is the equivalent of votes cast by the people.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">The brain needs the lungs to provide it with oxygen to function; likewise, the lungs need to brain co-ordinate it’s operations. Both need each as much as the other. </i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I agree, that bread and butter issues need to and must be addressed. As a voter in Canning and Ipoh Timor, I will wait for the correct time, namely the next general election, in voicing with my single vote for each the state and parliament, to express my satisfaction or otherwise of whether or not Kit Siang, Kah Woh and DAP has done<span style=""> </span>their job as elected representatives. Of course I have to take into account that DAP and their PR counterparts were originally elected in as the legitimate government, which was subsequently and illegally sabotaged, so I could only judge them on the basis of them being <span style=""> </span>SA and MP in opposition. I must say, they haven’t done too bad a job so far. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then again, I WOULD say that, wouldn’t I? </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let’s set aside the fact that I am the Campaign Director for DAP Canning and is playing a big part in the Kinta Valley DAP campaign strategy; </p> <p class="MsoNormal">let’s set aside the past, with the illegal BN power-grab in 2009; </p> <p class="MsoNormal">let’s set aside the fact that right here in Perak, more so than any other state in Malaysia, the people have been blatantly and utterly robbed of their constitutionally enshrined right of being governed by people they elect, with an unelected SA speaker, an MB who was appointed through a coup d’etat, and a prime minster who inherited his position through internal party appointment.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lets set all that aside, an explore your so-called’ bread and butter issue’.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, by you implying that my team’s support and involvement in the Bersih roadshow, is us NOT dealing with bread and butter issues of the people, I have to pose a couple of questions to you…</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The voting system, which is definitely not fit for purpose, as it definitely doesn’t reflect the fundamental rights of the people to choose their representative to govern, is in dire need of a much needed change. I’m certain I speak on behalf of a lot of people on all sides of the political divide, that our current ‘first past the post’ system is NOT RIGHT and is a serious infringement of the peoples’ fundamental rights as well as an outright disregard of the peoples’ calls for change. With the clearly gerrymandered constituency borders to the advantage of BN (take Ipoh timor VS Putrajaya for example), and the sickeningly obvious attempt to undermine Pakatan stronghold by ‘someone’, I am frankly appalled by anyone who can’t see what is wrong about it. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, by saying that we are not dealing with ‘bread and butter issues’, are you suggesting that the fundamental right<span style=""> </span>of the vote is not important enough for us to address? Or do you mean it’s too important for us to address? </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Showing support for a movement that is highlighting the urgent need for change of that system, and therefore fundamental right of each citizen that is the basis of our democracy, the oil that greases the wheels of society as we know it, in my opinion, can neither be not important enough nor too important for anyone to address. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m sure you’ll agree? </p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you do, then GREAT.<span style=""> </span>Give me a call, and we’ll discuss how we can work together, as you’re clearly passionate.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you do, I’m sure you have your reasons. I’d love to hear them. I know I’ll disagree.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">How do I know you may ask….</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I shall leave you with another couple of questions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is breathing any less important than thinking? </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Can we sustainably survive and thrive with either a dysfunctional set of lungs or a flawed brain?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-157053964506086812011-05-17T05:14:00.002+01:002011-05-17T06:54:19.577+01:00My prayer.... 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mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:ZH-TW;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Dear God of the Atheists( I know it’s contradictory in terms, but humour me for the sake of an attemptedly comedic, but in all seriousness, quite a significant <span style=""> </span>point)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I will preface this prayer with the declaration of my own personal stance on ‘religion’. I’m a bhuddist by faith, an atheist by practice, a polytheist by interest, and a secularist by socio-political preference. Some would say I’m confused, others would say I’m undecided. I say I'm just like most people I know. Only difference is, I admit to it.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I will have no regrets, put me in ISA or not, in saying that Religion has NO place in government. Not denying religions’ place in politics and politicking at large, but when talking about policy making for a multicultural, multireligious society, Objective Secularism is the only way forward to maintain harmony amongst said society’s many religions, cultures and races.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">For all intents and purposes, my words and thoughts will <span style=""> </span>represent a large number of people of my generation, Malaysians or otherwise, and no doubt will ring true on one hand in the minds of<span style=""> </span>the non-Muslims in Malaysia under the current policies; and on the other the new generation of people who feels that the need to start exploring a ‘different, more inclusive and equal Union amongst Malaysians’</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So here it goes. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I pray for a Malaysia that is officially Muslim in ceremony, but secular in administration, policy and any and every other way.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I pray for a Non-Islamic, Non-Christian, Non Bhuddist, and all together non- religious individual to hold the office of Prime Minister, who may or may not be a Muslim. Who gives a toss? And those who do, You’re wrong! As long as you’e a good person, command and deserve the support invested in you by the democratic system, I don’t give a damn.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I pray for equality amongst Muslims, Bhuddists, Christians, Atheists, Sikhs, Jews…. and any other races and practisers of any and all religion. I pray for equality amongst male, female transgender, homosexual, heterosexual or asexual!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I pray for those who advocate the superiority of any race of religion to be granted the intelligence and wisdom to realise the errors in their way; and forgiveness be granted to them for the pains and suffering caused by their ignorance and stupidity.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I pray for the acceptance of a less divisive, more united Malaysia. I pray for the extinguishing of the need to divide, label and identify each other by our race and religion, and a renaissance<span style=""> </span>of the real comspolitan and plural society that built the foundations of this truly unique nation, in the days of the Straits settlement, and the years preceding Merdeka.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Last but not least, I pray for us all to take the next mental step forward and change both the man in the mirror and people around us to accept those who are different from ourselves; and embrace the change necessary to make our nation and the world a better place. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our existence as we know it, <span style=""> </span>affords us the human race freedom of thought.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The union of different creeds of a united heart and spirit, earned<span style=""> </span>us freedom from our oppressors.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our nation was built on principles and ideologies that grants us the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are broken souls and angry minds out there who are threathening to undermine these fundamental freedoms, and deny us rights that what we are born with.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>I pray that these souls be spared the punishement they deserve. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I pray that we all take the next step, and let that next steo be the right step to restore the rights, and freedom that we so deserve.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">PS.. I also pray that if I get arrested under the ISA, you all cepat cepat come and tolong!!! :-)</p>Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-54794707181938641712011-03-31T12:38:00.003+01:002011-03-31T12:43:46.959+01:00Hisahmmudin: Incompetent minister delivers insensitive accusations!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>ZH-TW</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> 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mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Once again, our right honourable minister has displayed his, and his cabinet portfolio's incompetencies. Without going into the specifics of what his department has or hasn't done, his statement calling for CFM “…to come to a solution that is fair and reasonable”, really shows that we have political amateurs walking the corridors of power, spending our hard earned tax.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I will admit that there’s a certain degree of spinning here… but if a low level no-body like myself can see and spin it this way, I’m sure individuals of higher calibre would be able to do worse/better, depending on which side of the wall you sit. The point here is, WE HAVE SUBSTANDARD PEOPLE, ACTING AS MINISTERS, SERVING THE RA'AYAT SUBSTANDARDLY!!!<br /></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style=""><span style="">1)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> 1) </span></span></span>The non-chalant manner in which he delivered his ‘plea’, the right honourable minister could be easily and justifiably accused of seeing the CFM as a nuisance fringe-group, whose rights to practice their religion is a granted privilege rather than a universal right enshrined by the constitution. GOVERNMENT MINISTER ENFORCES RACIAL/RELIGIOUS SUPERIORITY COMPLEX (KETUANAN-ness), AND NEGLECTS THE CONSTITUTIONALLY ENSHRINED RIGHTS OF NON-MAJORITY RELIGIOUS GROUP! (best served with that picture of the right honourable waving his Keris at UMNO Congress a few years back)</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style=""><span style="">2)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>2)' ….to come to a solution that is FAIR and REASONABLE…… Immediately upon seeing those two capitalised words, whether it was a Freudian slip, or an orchestrated and rehearsed statement, it is clear to me that the right honourable minister is implying that CFM is being UN-REASONABLE and UNFAIR! It’s simply Politics and Communications 101 that by asking someone to be something, you’re also at the same accusing them of being not so. After a U-turn decision on the serial numbering and defaceing of the bibles, to accuse the victims as UNREASONABLE and UNFAIR, is careless at best, and STUPID at worst. I’ll even put it to folk, that by saying what he said, the Minster is inciting religious tensions amongst the non-muslim citizens, at the possible detriment of public peace…. GOVENRMENT MINISTER INCITING RELIGIOUS UNREST, BY INSULTING NON-MUSLIM GROUP!</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style=""><span style="">3)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>3)We know that in the past, that our right honourable minister has suggested before that the non-muslim vote bank is ’NEGLIGABLE’. The way in which his department has handled this debacle, simply enforces that suggestion. An electioneering 101, is never marginalise, or make accusatory allegations against a legal organisation, which represents a large bank of voters (Christians), on an issue that can be seen as a contravention of the rights of an even larger group of voters (non-Muslims). This is yet another instance, where the right honourable minster shows his disregard towards non-Muslims in the Malaysia.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style=""><span style="">4)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> 4) </span></span></span>Just another small-teeny-tiny point to throw in the mix! Since Article 11 isn’t fully observed, as Malays, de-facto, have no freedom to religious choice…. What’s there to say, that the Minister simply is aware of his actions and was overtly demonstrating all 3 of my abovementioned ‘observations’….</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So I guess it boils down to these points:</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style=""><span style="">1)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>1) Why and how is a minster so insensitive in his words and actions, especially when matters pertaining to the contravention of the national constitution, and more importantly, the universal freedom of all human being to free-choice, is at stake?</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style=""><span style="">2)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> 2) </span></span></span>How should we, as citizens, manage this situation whereby elected representatives are being at best non-chalant and careless about the power of the voters and voters’ sentiments, and at worst victimising, condescending, contemptuous towards voters…. And in this case, worse even, towards a specific minority group?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;">I know for a fact, that readers of this will know the answer to these questions.</p>Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-56740788394299082012011-03-26T08:04:00.002+00:002011-03-26T08:08:29.407+00:00A call for HELP to the REAL MUSLIMS! from one Malaysian to another!I am a Bhuddist who grew up in a Christian Priest's home, and have worked closely with Muslims from Britian, Pakistani, Bangladesh, Turkey, Lebanon and many other countries. I have read the qur'an in English, and the BIble. I am still a Bhuddist. Same with many of my Muslim friends who have also read religious texts of other religions. They have remained faithful to Allah and The Prophet Muhammed's teachings.<br /><br />This preposterous showing of the authorities' lack of trust towards Malaysian Muslims need to be voiced out against, BY Malaysian Muslims!<br /><br />All of you Malaysian brothers out there, who are Muslims, who feel that your right to read sacred texts of other religions is being infringed upon, VOICE OUT!<br /><br />If you feel patroinised by the bigotted figureheads of so-called 'religious authorities', who are calling for this violent insult upon your faith towards Allah, and mistrust of your loyalty towards the Prophet's teachings, VOICE OUT!<br /><br />If you feel like you're being urged by the authorites to marginalise fellow Malaysian who are also fellow 'People of the book', and to make a negative impingement upon their rights as enshrined in article 11 of the Federal Constitution, VOICE OUT NOW!!!!<br /><br />The sensible, compassionate, REAL Muslim Malaysian brothers and sisters, PLEASE! WE, the Non-muslims Malaysian need your HELP!Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-79938934110640788002011-03-15T12:47:00.003+00:002011-03-15T12:59:47.933+00:00Malaysia's nuclear power rationale: You've just lost 3, so I'm gonna build 2 of my own!Being simply critical of decision made by governments and governing bodies because said decisions don’t sit side by with my own views, is not normally my style. However, to wake up to the BBC on one tab of my browser, showing pictures of the horrendous fallout of the Tsunami, and it’s implications on the nuclear plants and consequentially and most importantly the people of the region; and on the other tab of a Malaysian independent news portal, headlining the Malaysian government’s bad-tasting, badly-timed, badly constructed, badly- delivered, barely thought-through release of it’s nuclear energy ambitions, left me very little choice but to just RANT!<br /><br />Let me be frank and clear, by clarifying my own personal stance on nuclear power.<br />I am on arguing for or against the building of nuclear plants.<br /><br />I have minimal, though enough knowledge to understand the principals of how nuclear fission generates heat and drives engines. I also know a few arguments both for and against the sustainability of nuclear energy as a whole. However, I fully acknowledge that I am not in a position of any knowledge or authority to opine authoritatively over the validity of the plans.<br /><br />What I do have a HUGE problem with, is everything else about the announcement. Here’s my break down if it:<br /><br />Bad timing and Bad Taste:<br /><br />A fellow Asian country has just suffered the worst natural disaster, which is culminating as we speak into the worlds worst ever multiple nuclear accident. Forget the fact that Malaysia doesn’t sit on a faultline, and rarely feel earthquakes etc etc. It’s simply BAD TASTE.<br /> To metaphorise: you wouldn’t announce to the world that you’re buying a bigger and better industrial meat mincer, after your neighbour from a few doors down has just had his right arm chewed up by his older modelled meat mincer. And not only that, is it a little ‘insensitive’ to announce to the entire street that you’d learn from the poor man’s mistake by making sure there’s a system in place to ensure that nothing untoward will happen to you as a result of your new purchase, when your poor neighbour is still in intensive care?<br /><br />Badly constructed and communicated<br /><br />My initial choice of adjectives for the ones who crafted this message from the Malaysian government was going to be ‘seasoned and high level political operators’, and then set upon the easy task of pointing out how they’re selling themselves short. After all, we are talking about the deputy PM and the minister for green energy. Then, upon further thought and contemplation, they’re definitely veterans, and been around for a long time doing what they do. But so have the likes of Gadaffi and Mubarak….<br /><br />Firstly, I remember reading somewhere that the validity of Nuclear energy for Malaysia will be based on a consensus of the People over the course a a few years. When I read about it, I thought,’ Great! The government’s got the sense to do this the sensible way. Sell the idea to the people and give them the opportunity to buy-in or rule-out!’. I see no where that the afore-mentioned consensus back in 2008-2009, commissioned to TNB’s nuclear energy exploratory arm back then, being referred to, nor do I see or hear of any attempts of a consensus being built. Certainly haven’t heard of a referendum being called or a national debate being had on nuclear power. I’ve had the fortune/misfortune of working in frontline politics both in Malaysia and the UK. Anyone with the slightest experience in politics can tell a mile away, when a message isn’t supported by figures, it’s either because there NO figures or the figures are bad! The fact that there’s been no quotation of any figures suggesting a consensus, or any form of public support, could only mean one or more of the following:<br /><br />1) There is NO public consensus (as in the results of relevant surveys/studies shows that the public doesn’t want nuclear power)<br />2) It was a badly run consensus building campaign, and the people were neither given the opportunity to consider the options, nor were they consented. *(the fault of the person running the the exploratory arm of TNB)<br />3) The decision was a top-down one. The PM is using his position of power to create employment and development figures with a globally controversial energy programme, which his predecessor, from his side of the political divide, announced would be decided on a consensus building basis.<br /><br />*I will be exploring this further down the line in this posting<br /><br />Any one of the above factors simply but loudly suggest that the decision and its ramifications have not been fully and properly considered. Worst still, the decision could’ve been made contrary to the expressed views of the public, at the public’s own expense. Down that chain of thought, the PM is essentially, embezzling the public’s taxes to build his portfolio of acheivements in jobs creation and joining the league of nuclear energy nations, possibly against the wishes of those paying for it! (Honestly… I’m not spinning….at all)<br /><br />All in all, the message was badly constructed and could’ve been done with a great deal more political tact. If a political nobody can see such a fundamental flaw in the message, imagine the real political operators out there! And the message was crafted by the Deputy Prime Ministers staffers!?!? <br /><br />I put it to you all that the Political operators at the very top of Politics in Malaysia, base on the way the message in question was crafted, are ABSOLUTE AMATEURS at best, and not fit for the wages they are paid at worst! <br /><br />‘<span style="font-style:italic;">the Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation had opened a tender to international consultants to conduct a study on the location, suitability and safety of the location, type of technology and public acceptance of the proposal.</span>’ Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin<br /><br />According to this, the government has decided on building 2 nuclear plants, when it doesn’t know where, how and its suitability. Most importantly it’ just admitted that it is yet to even seek acceptance of public proposal! My point proven!<br /><br />… and I digress.<br /><br />Away from politics and back to the Bad decision and why.<br /><br />The motive behind the decision<br /><br />It’s an age old adage in Malaysia, that ‘every project announced by government, is another minister’s friend, family, or party member taken care of, financially for a few generations. I am not making accusations here of cronyism, but merely asking the questions that has come to the fore in my inquisitive mind. Neither am I questioning the correctness of certain appointments made by TNB, and the prime minister past and and present. But I’d like to present some facts for you to make up your own mind.<br />When the first noises about nuclear energy being explored as an alternative to what was the status quo, in light of fluctuating energy and fuel prices, The head of Nuclear Energy taskforce and it’s Nuclear Energy Unit for TNB was Dr Mohd Zamzam Jaafar. Through out 2008-2009, Dr ZamZam on many occasions announced TNB’s approach to nuclear energy as an alternative, is to seek public consensus of its validity and credibility. In Feb 2001, th PM announced the appointment of Dr Mohd Zamzam Jaafar as the chief executive officer of the newly formed Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation as aforementioned to do what he was supposed to have been doing, when he was working for TNB. <br /><br />Now, I’m sure we will all know the answer to my following questions. But I will make my point by asking those very questions.<br /><br />• Who owns TNB?<br />• Doesn’t the aforementioned lacking of public consensus on nuclear energy as an alternative, the public’s lack of knowledge on the subject and furthermore, the non-existent of their engagement over the decision making process to spend Billions of Ringgit on building 2 nuclear plants, suggest that Dr ZamZam didn’t do a very good job?<br />• Moreover, doesn’t that mean the owner(s) of TNB has made a massive screw-up?<br />• And if Dr ZamZam didn’t do a very good job, then why has he been appointed CEO for the body overseeing the exploratory process, which he failed to deliver in his previous role?<br /><br />Now I have a couple more questions which may not be public knowledge, but It would be VERY VERY inappropriate for me to ask. Just the way I would now ask you not to picture in your mind, ‘A big Black Cat’ and you would, simply not have that picture on your mind….. Questions like<br /><br />• Is Dr ZamZam related to anyone in the cabinet?<br />• What is Dr ZamZam’s political affiliation?<br />• Does Dr ZamZam hold any stakes in construction companies which maybe now investing in expertise and infrastructure in building nuclear power plants?<br />To sum up the ramblings up to this point, I guess it’s down to the following few points.<br /><br />The politicians who claims to be running the country, are simply amateurs who have gotten to where they are by luck, chance and cronyistic means. And in reality, can’t even craft a simple message and deliver it with the necessary requirements of a semi mature democratic power with a fairly intelligent citizenship/electorate.<br /><br />The decision making process in government, and the way in which those processes are carried out, the engagement of the public/electorate in hish sensitivity issues concerning public health and welfare, and very longterm implications, like building nuclear energy plants, are at best un-transparent; and at worst a total farce, which is contrary to how a modern democratic country should be, where decisions ought to be made through consensus and not top down from politicians whose legitimacy is far from absolute.<br /><br />The announcement by the government to build the 2 nuclear power plants shows the inadequacies of the current regime, in this current turbulent times, and most importantly, it's unsuitability to remain walking in the corridors of power. When a government can show such lack of international propriety by the insensitive timing of the announcement; and furthermore inwardly, show such disregard for its electorate, one wonders the validity of the motive behind the decisions. And from that its far too easy to question every motive of every decision made by the same government.<br /><br />A time for change perhaps?Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-9339085069642916762011-03-12T13:04:00.006+00:002011-03-13T18:12:37.950+00:00Sarawak, Allah and the Bible.... the 3 wise men in the East (of England)I was the regional sales manager for a take-away food ordering e-commerce company which is now a very successful multinational corporation. As I no longer believe in how they conduct their business, I won’t be mentioning their name.It wasn't all bad, however, as there was one overwhemingly good thing Bbout this role which, I enjoyed immensely: The people is met. <br /><br />Why? <br /><br />I spent nearly a year and a half working very closely with a large number of Chinese, Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Iranian and Turkish communities across the East of England. As many of you may have worked out, apart from the Chinese communities, the other nationalities I mentioned, are more than likely to be Muslims.<br /><br />I don’t specifically take joy out of meeting muslims, the same way I don’t particularly take joy out of meeting bhuddists, or Jews, or atheists. I do however , get a great kick out of meeting lots of people, regardless of their class (whatever that means), creed, colour, and relevantly in the context of this piece, religion. Though there are people of a certain few religions who I don’t enjoy meeting…. But that’s another blog for another day.<br /><br />What I DID get great joy out of, was meeting a large of amounts of muslims, most of whom enjoyed a good debate about their own religion, and all of whom encouraged me to ask questions about it! Not only did this empower me (as a non-muslim) to discredit a large amount of negative perceptions I worngfully had towards Islam as predicated by 'Malaysian Islam'(the way it's practiced, regulated and interpreted, I inspired me to learn more about it. One more very fundamental joy I get from meeting these fellow foreigners who happen to embrace Islam, was the smile I see on their faces when I greet them with ‘Assalamualaikum’. Not once, have I ever not been greeted back with ‘Walaikumusalam’!<br /><br />Round about the time when there were debates going on with the Malaysian High Court’s revocation of the unconstitutional banning of the use of the word ‘Allah’ in Bahasa Malaysia Bibles, I had a once in a lifetime encounter. I had an Arabic speaking, Christian Lebanese chef friend ‘Louis’, who was looking at the opportunity of buying one of my client Jamshad's business , or Jimmy as he prefers, who is an Iranian Muslim. So I arranged a meeting between them, and I came along to act as an advocate.<br /><br />Neither parties knew anything other than each other's names, about each other. It really was a ‘shotgun’ arrangement, as the offer, location and timing was right. An associate's associate suggested one phone call that led to another... you know the score. Before I knew it, a meeting was arranged for the evening of the following monday. <br /><br />When we arrived at Jimmy’s, I did my customary shout out of Assalamualaikum round the back door, through his back yard, only to be greeted back with an even louder walaikumusallam and a VERY firm handshake and his trademark bear hug.<br /><br />As I was to turn around to introduce my two associates, an almost surreal thing happened! Louis stuck his hand forward and greeted Jimmy with Assalamualaikum too… and the pair went off on some quick fire exchange of what sounded like Arabic chat, laughs, violently friendly hugs and handshakes, and what I can only describe as neighbourly niceities of familiarity and respect… as though they’ve know each other for years… I felt slightly out of place and even a little marginalised truth be told, but underliningly quite chuffed…<br /><br />After a good 10 minutes of the aforementioned niceties, It had transpired that Lebanon’s official language is Arabic (which ignorant ol’ me had no idea), and Jimmy’s father had a business in Lebanon, only 40 miles from where Louis was born. Furthermore, Jimmy’s first wife who passed away 3 years before, went to the neighbouring church where Louis was christened. How’s that for chances!<br />Just to mae it even more bizarre, there they were in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the UK, introduced by a Malaysian Chinese Bhuddist working for a Danish Company based in London! <br /><br />Anyways… small talk aside, business discussed, numbers for lawyers exchanged, initial offers confirmed, quite a of extremely strong black tea, served with sugar cubes later, I was very please with myself. Well, until the arrival of the ‘big-small-talk’, as we retired to the back room.<br /><br />Imagine the setting. We: an Iranian Muslim, a lebanese Chirsitian, a Malaysian chinese Bhuddist, retiring to a sheltered backyard of the kebab shop where there was a park bench. On it was an overspilling ashtray, a shisha pipe on the table, a large metal teapot with a few glass highball glasses upside down on a wooden tray, during a lovely and warm summers dusk as the stars were just about visible, the smell of some sort of a casserole that's simply too sweet, exotic yet homely to be the conventional 'scent of the Kebabee'. Sounds bizarrely biblical and idyllic right? ....<br /><br />This is how the conversation roughly went:<br /><br />We all sit. Cigarettes were lit. One of Jimmy's staff was signalled to do something with the shisha, which he obediently and promptly toddled off to do.<br /><br />Jimmy (at me): So I read in some internet articles that your country, only just recently allow the word Allah in the religion of my friend here’s sacred book? Is it true?<br /><br />Me: Yes. (thinking… oh, lord! Find me whole right now so I can just hide… as I may stir an argument her and screw up the deal for them both!)<br /><br />Louis: Yes. I too saw it on a report in Lebanese TV.. saying it was a secular court ruling on religious matters…. What are you opinions?<br /><br />Me: Well… It’s hard for (just as my quivering lips was about to spout my views whilsts my brain was frantically constructing the most diplomatic, impartial deflective non-committal answer… Jimmy cuts in)<br /><br />Jimmy: (with a slight snigger)Louis, my friend… don’t you think it’s a little unfair to ask our friend here who is not a ‘man of the book’ to comment on a matter that doesn’t affect his beliefs, before hearing ours?...<br /><br />Louis: (With a facial expression of sincere regret and putting both of his hands on his chest and then transferring them onto my hand) I’m so sorry Howard. So sorry… well why not let Mr Jamshad here start this topic anew by him voicing his views on the topic he has raised.<br /><br />Jimmy (at Louis): You are a man of … I forget the words…. (some Arabic words)..<br />Louis (He welcomes it with a thunderous laugh but showing appreciation, and simultaneously expressing humbleness and humility)…. I am honoured. The word I believe is Eloquence and decorum.<br /><br />Jimmy: Yes, yes… eloquence and decorum… and also honour. I see I am in company of a true gentleman.<br /><br />At this juncture, I was torn between being really relieved of getting away with voicing my views, and EXTREME fear of this niceties of what is now being said, being some chivalric precursor to a sword fight to death due to their potentially fatalistically opposing views (or so I thought). To my right, there hangs by a window a 3 foot long Kebab carving knife…. I was VERY VERY uncomfortable. <br /><br />Jimmy: Well here are my views. I hope our friend Louis agrees. My wife was a Christian. We never shared our religion but we shared our lives. We will never know for sure whether our Allah is the same being, or not. But we both believed that there is one True Allah. So, what difference does it make? She was a good person, alhamdullillah. She gave me 4 children, all beautiful. Unfortunately 2 of them have NO religion! But I’m sure they will find Allah, or Allah will find them one day… We both called our God Allah, because God born us into families who spoke Arabic. What do you think Mr Louis?<br /><br />Louis: I was fortunate enough to have nearly completed, in my years of studying, a degree in Law. (something else I never knew… I’ve know the guy for nearly 2 years…) I have always approached matters like this with questions. My questions are:<br />1) If I was to come to your country, how do I pray to my God, in my own words and language, If I don’t speak English?<br />2) Would I be praying illegally in your country, with it’s previous law, if I was to pray in Arabic, when I praise my God by the name of Allah?<br />3) What in the name of Allah, both Jimmy’s and mine, is a secular court deciding on religious matters like this anyways?<br /><br />Me: (With a huge sigh of relief). Well… I will say to what you both have expressed. Alhamdulillah ad Masha’allah. I agree with you both!<br /><br />We all Laughed and dinner was served.<br /><br />The conversation continued till the wee hours in the morning, with more tea, cigarettes, shishas… and Kuresh Gohmeh Sabjee : an unctuous, really slow cooked leg of lamb, fresh herbs and beans and peas stew. The interplay of Fenugreek, parsley and coriander, that really dances well with the fresh zestiness of the dried limes seems to set a really beautiful background for the sweet and tender lamb… Especially in the setting that were we in. <br /><br />For those few hours, I was convince that we were transported back in time to the days, when open debates were had between scholars from all faiths in some middle eastern country, on how the world can become a better place if only we listened to each other and learnt as much as there is to learn about everything. The days when the concept of faith wars for the sake of the ones who hungered power had not permeated the world; the days when having your own beliefs made you want to learn more about other beliefs; the days when people didn’t subjugate others based on their beliefs or even impose upon others their own, by restricting their rights, with no other reason than their possession of power and social standing.<br /><br />Some might ask, did those days ever exist. <br /><br />It’s my belief that they did. <br /><br />It’s not my place to make anyone believe it, but i know for sure that I won’t stop believing it if anyone forbade me from believing, thinking or saying it. <br /><br />I will take a leaf out of my friend Louis book and express my conclusive views through a question: <br /><br />Will the Sarawakian Christians stop addressing their Allah any differently in their mind, soul and spirituality, simply because the authorities won’t allow it… despite the courts ruling…?<br /><br />We all know the answer.Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-77322493182377864652011-03-07T14:11:00.011+00:002011-03-08T14:25:24.731+00:00Service with a smile: The Sustainability of the Perakian Food and Agricultural Industry<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>ZH-TW</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> 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10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Up to the age of 12, I had the privilege of growing up in Ipoh. Whether or not its nature or nurture, or whether it matters or not, I just cherish the fact that the extremely beautiful landscape of memories for those first few years of my life is still painted with extremely powerful food memories and adorned with scents and textures that are vivid as the papercut I just had 5 minutes ago . </span> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But one resounding common denominator in all of those memories, is that the vendors and what I would now call Food and Beverage (F and B) operators, always had a beaming smile on their faces. One smile that sticks out more than any other, is of a lovely middle aged lady who gave me my first own packet of rojak, whose smile till this very day embodies the quintessence of what understand to be ‘service with a smile’</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Perak has long been known to be the Haven for Malaysian food lovers and gourmands. Ipoh, its capital has long held the unofficial yet coveted title of ‘Malaysia’s Food Capital’. Love it or lump it, agree or disagree, it does have an amazingly awesome array of cuisines available for those who are partial to some gluttonous sensory overloads. This is especially important during this climate of global austerity, when these food lovers and gourmands are not willing to part with neither their insatiable appetite for quality, nor their increasingly harder-earnt cash. Ipoh has had the reputation of being able to offer amply on both accounts, unlike major tourist hubs ( KL, Penang, Melaka) who offers one or the other and in some case neither!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Short of doing a PhD on the Socio-Economic-Geo-Political-Gastronomic- Historic studies of the Perak State, it’s be hard to really pin-point on a reason (or even a set of multiple reasons) as to why this is. But, let’s assume it’s because of the following factors:</span></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ipoh, the capital’s well-rounded metropolitan demography and its by-and-large cosmopolitan view and approach to external cultural influences</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Its suitably small geographical size, and good transport infrastructure, which means better proximity and accessibility to the freshest ingredients, therefore more cost effective for all concerned</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Perakian’s relative prosperity and slightly higher income and spend per capita </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And the fact that it has been all the above for a good century or so.</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A childhood hero of mine Peter Parker, AKA Spiderman once said,’ with great powers come great responsibility’. That’s my way of understanding the theory of supply and demand. Well, Ipoh’s reputation for good food, comes with a huge demand that is, thank the heavens, supplied by a huge amount of Perakians running food and beverage businesses to sustain the coveted reputation. My family is also lucky enough to have a major stake in a food and beverage business within the banqueting sector in Perak, which is one of the reasons for the penning of this article.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The responsibility shouldered by those ‘aunties and uncles’ or F & B operators are still there and the punters are still coming. The difference now, in comparison with the past, is that, they no longer have those beamingly bright smiles on their faces, and that there are now shouts of ‘Barang-Naik’ being used as political rhetoric. The punters are not willing to spend more, but still demanding the service from operators who are torn between the prospect of losing customers or losing on profit margins. It’s a LOSE LOSE situation.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This signals to me that commodity and food prices are really affecting the lives of Malaysian. Globally, we have seen ‘barang naik’ at unprecedented degrees due to some very high output export nations of meat and rice, suffer some horrendous natural disasters. When supply and demand doesn’t strike a positive skew or at least some form of equilibrium, import and export price hikes happen! It’s the nature of economics! We all know who suffers when that happens- the people of countries who don’t produce their own commodities… and more importantly, in the context of this article, F & B operators of those countries get really squeezed!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">At the risk of being accused of spouting provocative rhetoric , scaremongering, and the attempting to incite civil unrest, I am going to opine openly here, that the recent and some still on-going unrests, seen in the middle eastern countries, were caused (among many other equally important issues) by the very issue I am talking about here- <b>food price rises due to dependence on Import.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Of course, Malaysians are a little too comfortable to be venting our angers on the streets, and things ain’t quite as bad as it is in Tunisia and Egypt yet, but why let there be a possibility of it happening when we have enough arable land, the climate and people to stamp it out before it becomes an issue. Furthermore, why not take those steps to stamp it out when those very steps can not only act as a prevention of crisis, it can bring about a self sustainability that protect our people, and potentially provide the infrastructure to become a net exporter of those very commodities that our people are being economically blackmailed with.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I don’t unfortunately have the solution to this problem (I do have a few ideas though…), but I do believe it boils down to the following 4 questions:</span></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">1)</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">How can we Perakians, as individuals, contribute to food self-sustainability in the State of Perak, and ultimately build a better and brighter future for our future generations?</span></li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2)</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What incentives, measures and initiatives are there available / being implemented (public, private or charitable sector) to encourage a stronger, more self-sufficient agricultural micro-economy within the state of Perak, by encouraging a higher standard and volume of production of currently import dependant commodities such as meat? </span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">3)</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What is currently being done to raise the Perakian people’s awareness of the importance of buying local, supporting local producers, and changing the incorrect perception of Local= substandard, and most importantly restore the former pride, glory and equally importantly coffers of the Perakian rural farming community?</span></li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">4) What targets are there in place, whether they be imposed by federal, state government or NGOs, in tracking the progress food-self sustainability, both in production and in consumption, to limit the carbon footprint of food commodities as well as to protect local businesses and consumers against global food price fluctuations/rises?</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What I want to see on the back of asking these 4 questions are simple. I simply want to see food and beverage businesses operate with a smile on their faces. I also want to see them supporting their friends, relatives, neighbours who are members of the local farming community, who live locally to them. These are people who needs to being encouraged, supported and helped by government and those who have the power /passion , in these harsh economic climates when huge international multi-billion dollar conglomerates wage price wars with little small local farmers who struggle to make ends meet. I also want to see the next generation of those struggling local farmers to be thrown a lifeline and opportunity to progress in what they do along with the advancement of technology, and furthermore encourage their children to do the same. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If the government and those walking the corridors of power are fully committed in protecting the welfare, economy of the people they represent, and safeguarding the future of their children and their children’s children, act on the outcome of those questions and ACT NOW!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After all, is a smile too much to ask for when I take my child for his/her first packet of rojak?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Howard Lee can be reached on emwdine@gmail.com</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-64006260203274402632010-07-23T11:11:00.003+01:002011-03-08T14:37:47.521+00:00INTRA PARTY FACTIONS in PERAK<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CUser%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CUser%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CUser%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 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mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">I once sat in a mamak stall with some very seasoned DAP member uncles and aunties having breakfast, discussing Malaysian Politics. And one reason or another led the conversation to discussing INTRA-party struggle, especially during times or austerity, or during periods of post defeat wound licking. There’s no denying that the loss of rule of Perak and the current cuts of subsidies and rise in commodity prices is anything other than just that. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The crux of the conversation boils down to this: Intra Party leadership struggles are more often than not, more ruthlessly executed, and more importantly causes more collateral damage that inter-party politics. Let me elaborate on this.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">To put it in the simplest terms, a fight between two parties are centred around the respective parties’ vision of the future, policies in which they want to introduce and implement, and what change they propose they see fit for the people. So it’s essentially, the very different idealogical and political boundaries that are being challenged. On the other hand, the fight between so called ‘factions’ between leaders of the same party, who already share the same ideologies and policies, turns the fight into a fight bound and fuelled by emotions, allegiances, and worst still ruthless ambition to step up to the next level. It is unfortunately, a school yard fight about who’s your best friend at the time and who’s style is the most ‘in’ and pleases the most people. We all, as human beings know the consequences of <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">One can argue that’s the nature of politics and democracy. And it indeed it’s right. Anyone who pretends that elections, whether they be inter or intra party should be calm collective discussions and wholely civilised, are either living in denial or not very clear about the objectives of a democratic system. Furthermore, it’s only natural that factions are formed pre elections. After all, election, best compared with motor racing, contrary to popular belief, is very much so a team sport. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Let’s look at the two camps in question. And since it’s two different<span style=""> </span>styles of politics, I will describe Kula being the driver of a Formula 1 team, and the Ngeh and Nga cousins being the drivers of a high performance Rally driving team.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Kula has been in Parliament now for a while and is well known for his firebrand no-nonsense approach. His oratorical skills is one of a naturally strong projection and but <span style=""> </span>flows smoothly like palm syrup onto nyonya kueh’s. His charisma on a one to one basis, contrarily is overwhelmingly attractive, and has an adorable nature to it. He can sembang kopi with you in a kopitiam as well as talk about the importance of recycling and<span style=""> </span>it’s long term ecological, economical and impacts if not addressed right now. To summarise, he’s an all roundl versatile smooth operator who knows his tracks. And once he’s familiar with the track, he can gain some high speeds as long as his well experienced team <span style=""> </span>that he’s spent his entire career assembling slowly but surely, does him proud, and track conditions are good.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">The Cousins on the other had are very different in their approach. To me, they are the driver and co-driver of a rough mountain and jungle terrain rally team with some very talented fast thinking team of young mechanics. Ngeh is the disciplined, calm and technically perfect main driver whose exacting standards has earnt him support and a long lasting leadership with the party. Armed with lethal oratorical skills, Nga is the ‘grown up’ cheeky chappy who loves taking very well calculated risks and had made a commercial and political success for himself, just by being inspirational and calling for the right gears on the right corner at the right time. It is no surprise that they dominate in any arena they are a contender in, as they are a truly amazing partnership. They have navigated, completed and succeeded in terrains never thought possible by their predecessors, and they’ve also done so by keeping their integrity intact.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">I am in no position to say which is the better camp. Neither will I voice my opinions on who should. But I will cast a vote like any other active participants in a democratic process are bound by their duty as a citizen will do.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">At the end of the day... it really depends on which one you prefer... Rally or F1
<br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-60169590418091103942010-07-19T11:13:00.006+01:002010-07-23T11:11:05.924+01:00Dinner & Andy & Pav's<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8D4gkJQjKkPFf_2q0bVhnlACacLx8Ry0DsL4bBtycGpXZeOJFuJFNNkhNID36-p-Pp2mCq0B42MzspouxchI3jQAeXTKpvx8ZK_iikB-uqE33aUA54jCgSOo6Ovd84YPAPAT_a3g0vLg/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8D4gkJQjKkPFf_2q0bVhnlACacLx8Ry0DsL4bBtycGpXZeOJFuJFNNkhNID36-p-Pp2mCq0B42MzspouxchI3jQAeXTKpvx8ZK_iikB-uqE33aUA54jCgSOo6Ovd84YPAPAT_a3g0vLg/s400/IMG_0530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497041543301445570" border="0" /></a>Dinner @ Pavlica & Andy's<br /><br />A lovely evening was had by all last night.<br /><br />Terrine of lemon-verbena, scented chicken, Shiitake mushroom and leek; leek and mushroom stir fry; Sesame infused ginger purée<br /><br />Fish n chips salt n vinegar crusted river cobbler; lemongrass dauphinoise; coriander & pea pesto<br /><br />Salad of orange confit duck leg; pan roasted duck breast; maché & rocket; orange duck glaze; orange & duck fat bread stick<br /><br />seared & pink poached pork fillet; apple glazed vegetables; sweetcorn & thyme purée; crackling<br /><br />coconut infused rice, pea and bean pudding; raspberry & mint pickled beetroot and orange ta!rt tatin!<br /><br />there was no plate-scraping needed though some ate more than other!!! Andy....<br /><br />By the way, What an amazing house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />And thanks Felicia for doing the invitations!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfpsmRB7YA3p_vIKK07fj9r9jmxo7maXJ_7Bd7MNH-8wSmjyKSxVHfy3oUs5RZnX4XBvCDkQmLQRfWCf1f8zwPMSJzSYQXEKFp7hOg1wp9xzlP99PxzjXkIDzptt1yBAtmXzade_xaytV/s1600/IMG_0518.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfpsmRB7YA3p_vIKK07fj9r9jmxo7maXJ_7Bd7MNH-8wSmjyKSxVHfy3oUs5RZnX4XBvCDkQmLQRfWCf1f8zwPMSJzSYQXEKFp7hOg1wp9xzlP99PxzjXkIDzptt1yBAtmXzade_xaytV/s400/IMG_0518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497037044061994450" border="0" /></a>Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-28917158658351774992010-06-16T19:59:00.002+01:002010-06-16T20:02:53.287+01:00Lemgrass scented curried cos cheeks, rice & split peas salad, papaya & passionfruit yoghurt, powdered coriander & mango<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSYJ5LZYM_R0WDHxY02OydKq1tw-gQF8ZVcGuYIvr5g3n3puXbVK3y749nevBYDlzfzJpOhgu1-Lc9-qArbu0nNz3tcf2IBB1VBquN7vzUn5q0CMW5kw7mhYMaqrwfq_tql3iTZtBCL9d/s1600/lemongrass+%26+smoked+paprika+curried+fish.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSYJ5LZYM_R0WDHxY02OydKq1tw-gQF8ZVcGuYIvr5g3n3puXbVK3y749nevBYDlzfzJpOhgu1-Lc9-qArbu0nNz3tcf2IBB1VBquN7vzUn5q0CMW5kw7mhYMaqrwfq_tql3iTZtBCL9d/s400/lemongrass+%26+smoked+paprika+curried+fish.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483448357596423010" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Wrote the recipe and lost it to a crashed computer!... will post later!!! DOH!</div>Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-91821155294324406252010-06-16T16:44:00.003+01:002010-06-16T17:44:54.432+01:00GIGA Synergy of Meat & Two Veg, & Tasteful Marriage of Flavours or Flavourful Marriage of Tastes 24th Feb 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepaUxh4fGNXKAXsFqoEWpTdhpurnVtg5zfJt_KV04SXlo1RKNZiyIzsDGR95Nz6_htyErtb05q8l1MsZM8Ew8T0HSYxYpFbdBI4kYTqnuZ64VI0adOZDEPxjiox0V2owVhvSEsoyrTism/s1600/pidan.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://iodnorfolk.com/2010/03/experimental-asian-cooking-with-howard-lee/">http://iodnorfolk.com/2010/03/experimental-asian-cooking-with-howard-lee/</a><br /><br />God, nature, natural selection depending on your religiosity or spiritual belief has equipped us with the necessary tools and organs to perceive the five senses.<br /><br />gestation, olfaction, vision, audition, tactition.<br /><br />To go further and deeper, one can even look at the senses of<br /><br />proprioception and kineastheis, thermoception, magnetoception, and equilibrioception.<br /><br />With this vast array of tools, powered by the CPU that is the brain, we are able to receive, process, interpret, analyse and enjoy the experiences that we get bombarded with on a mililisecond by millisecond basis that this world has to throw at us. During this meal and lecture, I will endeavour to explore all of the five sense and maybe even touching on some of the deeper ones, but through the looking glass of a chef using stimuli that can be ingested………<br /><br />Through this lecture and the food tonight, I’d like to achieve the following:<br /><br />• Give you a sneak preview into the way a chef’s mind work when composing a menu, when the sole purpose of the exercise is to provide a multisensory experience led by the gustatory and olfactorial sense.<br /><br /><br />• To demonstrate the employment of perception; conventional and unconventional combination of ingredient to achieve tastes and aromas; and consequentially the combination of those factors, to achieve flavours.<br /><br /><br />• Outline to you, the joys and pains of a chef’s search for Glutamate, Inosonate, Guanylate Associative Synergy… or how to make things taste good!!<br /><br />• What good is all of the above to YOU!<br /><br />Andrea is the lovely but naive new editorial assistant at Runway, the Vogue-like fashion magazine edited by the steely Miranda. In the movie, the word "naive" is tossed at Andy by coworkers as a way of belittling her fashion sense. But there is a deep and more interestingly naiveté that surfaces when she fails to stifle a chuckle about the intense debate about belts and other items of fashion during a designer-preview. Specifically, Andrea harbors a naive assumption about her own power of choice in the face of what she considers to be overblown "stuff" filling the offices of this fashion magazine.<br />Miranda hears Andrea's chuckle and catches her ill-advised description of the racks of clothes as "stuff." She jumps on Andrea's words with catlike speed and precision. In a blue streak, she cuts Andrea's assumption to ribbons:<br />Stuff? Oh, okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet, and you select, I don't know, that lumpy blue sweater because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that sweater is not just blue. It's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002 Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was St. Laurent, wasn't it, who showed a selection of cerulean military jackets. And then cerulean quickly showed up in collections of eight different designers. It filtered down through the department stores, and then trickled down into some tragic Casual Corner where you undoubtedly fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs. It's sort of comical how you think you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry, when in fact, you're wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room... from "a pile of stuff."<br />Though not always so, through the ages, ideas and products and in the case of the gastronomic world; flavour combinations and preparation techniques were ‘selected’ and found to be ‘favoured’ by the elite, or trendsetters (royalty and gentry, foreign dignitaries, celebrated chefs, public figures). Said favoured trends, ingredients and combinations have more often than not ‘trickled down through the filter that is society, and inadvertently finding their ways on to the dinner tables of people from all sector of society… admittedly more often than not a lesser (bastardised) incarnations of the original. They may not be objectively what we enjoy but have inadvertently learnt to accept, or not to repel.<br />The point of this clip is neither to patronize folk about your fashion sense, or in my case lack of; neither is it an elaborate way of me saying everyone should embrace the en-vogue most current, upto date food trend of the three Michelin star establishments… beacsue it will eventually become the norm. The point that I’m trying to encourage folk to consider, is that each and every single one of us in this room have a memory bank of flavours, tastes, food memories and things of the like within us that either restricts us in someway, or heightens us in other, the way we enjoy certain ingredient combination and food preparations.<br />By asking the question how would you fancy curried anchovies with coconut and pandan steamed rice with a biltong-esque curried buffalo……<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16.2037px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqyvygOIzbgmn8YFnQ5ufLwzdoAUP_QwVJwI-WOuSJ_QJ_zDQ-KyodbGyNh0CCZGkf9hiWYRfqykMucM8WY4tyu_vhFTXI8nR-tgdRD79_q4reX3YFNjIeIBDmOipIQjkt7nGoCz5TQhQ/s1600/nasi_lemak_std.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqyvygOIzbgmn8YFnQ5ufLwzdoAUP_QwVJwI-WOuSJ_QJ_zDQ-KyodbGyNh0CCZGkf9hiWYRfqykMucM8WY4tyu_vhFTXI8nR-tgdRD79_q4reX3YFNjIeIBDmOipIQjkt7nGoCz5TQhQ/s400/nasi_lemak_std.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483398260643446098" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 390px; height: 293px; " /></a><br /></span><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />or</div><div><br />A dried shrimp and pork rib infused rice porridge, frog ovarian fat, potash and smoked salt cured sea urchin and sea cucumber, thousand year egg, pork intestine crisps and deep fried 24 day open air fermented bean curd….<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-size:16.2037px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepaUxh4fGNXKAXsFqoEWpTdhpurnVtg5zfJt_KV04SXlo1RKNZiyIzsDGR95Nz6_htyErtb05q8l1MsZM8Ew8T0HSYxYpFbdBI4kYTqnuZ64VI0adOZDEPxjiox0V2owVhvSEsoyrTism/s400/pidan.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483398791643317378" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 691px; height: 589px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-size:16.2037px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span><br />Some of you may find the above almost acceptable and would not immediately hide behind a screen when these are announced to you to be on your menu…. But your reactions would be rightfully reluctant (or worse) if these were presented to you for breakfast….<br />By freeing our minds of certain pre-conceptions and loosening certain associations, and hence lowering certain guards against some counter intuitive prospective food experience, (eg pork loin and sweetcorn purée…)… or indeed the traditional Malay Breakfast of Nasi Lemak dan Rendang Kerbau breakfast . The associations we form of food experiences are also heavily associated with occasions and emotional states.<br /><br />Pre conceived ideas and pre-indoctrinated cultural/flavour association.<br />Consider<br /><br />crisps, nan’s casserole; mums roast dinners; sandwich fillings, pizza toppings<br /><br />Beef: Carrots, Onion, Beetroot, Cabbage<br />Chicken: Mushroom, Sweetcorn, Ginger, Parmesan<br />Turkey: Coriander, Cranberry, curry, Cornichon<br />Duck Tomato, Aubergine, Orange, Apple<br /><br />Lock and Key mechanism:<br />Goats cheese, Picalili Parmesan, Shropshire Blue, Red Onion Marmalade<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Pearl Barley Risotto of Shiitake Mushroom & Anchovy paste<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-42667605412319335902010-05-17T09:23:00.000+01:002010-05-17T09:24:52.524+01:00Thanks Mandy!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ea82q8pHMQn2Z_UUBig2QpUOElpAXA6GQnjbjogFEHJoiqoPIeSSBC7SCDt3qCpmSfuHI33zz2q2Fqy6IXa4sgCsVBH7maP16rF8fWNH1dScCe2qcUCFEOKR8LKTbGkcn0liMIE6CsoP/s1600/_Farrows+testimonial.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ea82q8pHMQn2Z_UUBig2QpUOElpAXA6GQnjbjogFEHJoiqoPIeSSBC7SCDt3qCpmSfuHI33zz2q2Fqy6IXa4sgCsVBH7maP16rF8fWNH1dScCe2qcUCFEOKR8LKTbGkcn0liMIE6CsoP/s400/_Farrows+testimonial.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472151859369982658" /></a><br /><br />a humbling testimonial from Mandy Farrow.Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-74520780020765503382010-05-03T10:33:00.003+01:002010-05-03T10:48:24.359+01:00Biscotti; Kopi O Kelly; Limoncello sorbet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8er4Gr5E3dNfI9O4Wv80RNJR5heXw_SVNjcb3f1I5AdFVgckI1CgNQ8szpkcZV9md0PJzxvyJtQqzwEhNEJrhYSdpBoJSaMGlafYTgeOem43swuseZKlAyt2KpQY6ZOQu8DnusIH6I1i/s1600/biscotti067.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8er4Gr5E3dNfI9O4Wv80RNJR5heXw_SVNjcb3f1I5AdFVgckI1CgNQ8szpkcZV9md0PJzxvyJtQqzwEhNEJrhYSdpBoJSaMGlafYTgeOem43swuseZKlAyt2KpQY6ZOQu8DnusIH6I1i/s400/biscotti067.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466977762618221794" /></a><br />another recipe I found from the my vault of recipes.....<br /><br />This was a recipe that I refined... over the course of 5-6 attempts (mainly the biscotti). My sister Ary, after watching some Hong Kong TV drama where the female lead decided to 'win the heart' of the male lead 'through his stomach' by presenting him with a jar of biscotti.... naturally, she asked me for a recipe and I ended up making the damn things for her..... Whether or not hearts were won through my bisocttis, I;d never know but I would've certainly been happy to receive them.Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-62788128981143712992010-05-01T18:50:00.004+01:002010-05-01T19:53:42.031+01:00Salad of Flaked white fish, roasted sweet pepper; sweet soy, ginger and tarragon dressing; soy vinegar sautéed baby Pak choy & cabbage.<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CUser%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CUser%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" 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<br />There are certain dishes that are unassuming by how it sounds, tastes or looks. There's not even a back story to it that can paint the picture of 'strength in mediocrity'. They simply do the job of giving you just enough stimulation to not dislike it, but really didn't make enough of an imprint in your mind that you'd even remember ever having it.
<br />
<br />So why am I putting it my first ever posting of a recipe online, and possibly in my first ever book? WHY????
<br />
<br />BECAUSE:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >the same reason why extras are needed on a film set...<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >frames are used to adorn a masterpiece...<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >humans are born with eyebrows, tail bones, appendixes and men with nipples...<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >etc etc etc...<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >
<br />they serve a purpose however small, insignificant, pointless and dull that may be.
<br />
<br />This dish most certainly ain't dull but leaves a great deal for imagination. It requires very little skill or finesse in it's preparation; and it most definitely won't change your life when presented to you. But somehow.... I like it.
<br />
<br />Ingredients <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Stir fry<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >quarter of a small white cabbage (shredded to 2 mm thick chiffonade)
<br />4 baby pak choys washed
<br />1 clove of garlic peeled and green shoot in the centre removed, and slived thinly
<br />1 whole small red onion finely sliced
<br />1 tbspoon of sesame seed oil
<br />5 tbsp of rice wine vinegar
<br />5 tbsp of light soya sauce
<br />175 ml of mirin
<br />1 inch of root ginger
<br />
<br />Salad
<br />
<br />1 red pepper
<br />1yellow pepper roasted, skinned and thinly sliced
<br />100g mixed rocket, baby spinach, lollo rosso and frisée... ( or any salad leaved really)
<br />2 heaped tbsp of sesame seeds toasted<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >1 head of fennel shaved thinly and marinated in the juice of 2 oranges (or just enough to cover the lot<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Onion crisps<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >Dressing<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >10g dill
<br />20g tarragon finely chopped<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >1 tbsp ginger oil<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >3 heaped tbsp of sweet soya sauce<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >4 tbsp olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12;" >Fish and steaming liquer<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >600 g cos<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >175 ml mirin<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >1 bay leaf<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" >2 curry leaves<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span 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font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-9828797698896348202009-02-24T10:41:00.001+00:002009-02-24T10:43:45.080+00:00James the first and the Perak new Chief MinisterBritish History is repeating itself in the Silver State of Perak.<br /><br />Below is a paragraph I read about the reign of James the First way back in the early 1600’s. It’s amazing how many paralells one could draw between dear ol’ King Jimmy and our Menteri Besar Yang amat tidak dihormati (dan tidak sah) Dato Seri Zombie.<br /><br />James I - England 1603-1625<br /><br />James' twenty-nine years of Scottish kingship did little to prepare him for the English monarchy: England and Scotland, rivals for superiority on the island since the first emigration of the Anglo-Saxon races, virtually hated each other. This inherent mistrust, combined with Catholic-Protestant and Episcopal-Puritan tensions, severely limited James' prospects of a truly successful reign. His personality also caused problems: he was witty and well-read, fiercely believed in the divine right of kingship and his own importance, but found great difficulty in gaining acceptance from an English society that found his rough-hewn manners and natural paranoia quite unbecoming. James saw little use for Parliament. His extravagant spending habits and nonchalant ignoring of the nobility's grievances kept king and Parliament constantly at odds. He came to the throne at the zenith of monarchical power, but never truly grasped the depth and scope of that power.<br />James was not wholly unsuccessful as king, but his Scottish background failed to translate well into a changing English society. He is described, albeit humorously, in 1066 and All That, as such: "James I slobbered at the mouth and had favourites; he was thus a bad king"; Sir Anthony Weldon made a more somber observation: "He was very crafty and cunning in petty things, as the circumventing any great man, the change of a Favourite, &c. inasmuch as a very wise man was wont to say, he believed him the very wisest fool in Christendom."<br /><br />YAB Dato Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir- Perak, Malaysia 2009<br /><br />Zambry' s ‘not so durable’ a term of BN leadership did little to prepare him for the Perak Premiership: the people of Perak and Barisan Nasional supporters, rivals for superiority on the state since the 308 political tsunami, virtually hated each other. This inherent mistrust, combined with the peoples’ desperation for a people-centric, transparent leadership that the previous BN governments has starved them of, severely limited Zambry's prospects of a truly successful reign. His personality also caused problems: he was witty and well-read, fiercely believed in the divine right of kingship and his own importance, but found great difficulty in gaining acceptance from an Perakian society that found his rough-hewn manners and natural paranoia quite unbecoming. Zambry saw little use for Parliament. His extravagant spending habits (Yuk Choy orchestra’s allocation) and nonchalant ignoring of the people’s grievances (the people’s rallies and opinion polls demanding a re-election) kept king and State legislature constantly at odds. He came to power through the unconstitutional assistance of the monarchical power, but never truly grasped the depth and scope of that power.<br />Zambry was not wholly unsuccessful as Menteri besar (I mean…you know, he got sworn in… that’s an achievement, albeit illegal and unconstitutional), but his UMNO background failed to translate well into a changing Perakian society. Here we can see parallels between Zambry and James I, the bad Scottish King of England, albeit humorously, in 1066 and All That, as such: "James I slobbered at the mouth and had favourites; he was thus a bad king"; Sir Anthony Weldon made a more somber observation but still relevant with Zambry: "He was very crafty and cunning in petty things, as the circumventing any great man, the change of a Favourite, &c. inasmuch as a very wise man was wont to say, he believed him the very wisest fool in Christendom."<br /><br />It would seem that the likely post reign summary of James I and Zambry is going to be pretty similar… and no less, till this day, James I is widely considered as the worst monarch of Britain ever .<br /><br />Oh, I forgot to add…. James I died of a very serious attack of dysentery.Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-43606652892998507282009-02-17T19:08:00.003+00:002009-02-17T19:19:51.278+00:00Norfolk Institute of Director's Spirit of the East, Whisky and Food Tasting Evening<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilR5i41cql73ufnJmzh99R9TmTtxWOlIYEIum38pm_Jz-xfNeteRIbmQLNU6j_tWtoDdNho7r9S8K3FuZHf-Ist8ciYBbxVf02uKyq-oxW5UjEQvaPzFhAcnrF8khZT0jFZ9q_RRGEgrS9/s1600-h/menu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303846103721034482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilR5i41cql73ufnJmzh99R9TmTtxWOlIYEIum38pm_Jz-xfNeteRIbmQLNU6j_tWtoDdNho7r9S8K3FuZHf-Ist8ciYBbxVf02uKyq-oxW5UjEQvaPzFhAcnrF8khZT0jFZ9q_RRGEgrS9/s400/menu.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Whisky and Food tasting at Dunston, paired with the ramblings from My mate Dominic 'the Walking Whisky Encycopaedia' Roskrow, and my humble oriental self.</div><div></div><div>A posting on the interactive, almost academic discussions on the crazy food flavour combinations with its fair whisky partners will be posted soon.</div><div></div><div>A huge thank you for each and every single one of you who attended the Event at Dunston Hall Last week. I hope I’m not wrong in sensing that a great evening was had by all. I myself, for one, enjoyed it tremendously, and I have been assured by Dominic that the sentiment is shared.<br /><br />It was very encouraging and motivating for me to see so many delighted faces and hear comments of agreement over the evening. It’s not often that chefs get to have that almost academic interaction between service provider and consumer. I count myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to be part of the event. I can happily say that the interactive event last Wednesday evening was the first of many that I’ll be holding in the future. Kudos to Dominic for proposing the event!</div><div></div><div>I'll see if Dominic would sprinkle his golden words on this lowly blog....</div>Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994377779671030268.post-45456677375466713312009-02-17T17:26:00.003+00:002009-02-24T10:56:00.191+00:00Me me me me me.....it's all about me....Ipoh, a city in the peninsular of Malaysai that people all over South East Asia,( as far south as Singapore and as far north as Hong Kong) travel to, just for it’s wonderful food. Being a truly multicultural business centre, this Malaysian city is littered with foodshops, restaurants, food markets, hawker stalls, food courts and all things food related inspired by the many races and cultures of Malaysia. It is said that people in Ipoh live and work for their next meal. So far, I am yet to meet someone who has been to Ipoh who disagrees. I was fortunate enough to be born into this beautiful culture, referred to by the Chinese as 民以食为天, loosely translated as ‘FOOD is the primary enjoyment in life’.<br /><br />For the first 12 years of my life, my parents, who are keen ‘food enthusiasts’, took me to all the ‘best’ food establishments that they knew. I’d like to point out here that the phrase ‘best food establishment’ used here will probably be very different from the popular western idea of ‘best’. The eastern concept of a meal experience has a great deal to do with context, tradition and culture. Which in short, means that the I didn’t go to places resembling Le Gavroche or El Bulli at the tender age of 9. Those experiences were more like little road side stalls which served North west Malaysia’s ‘best’ roasted belly of pork on newspaper, with the crispiest rind you can imagine ; ‘Ipoh’s best Oxtail braised noodle soup served in chipped plastic plates in the back alley of a residential care home; South east asia’s ‘best’ chicken and beansprouts on the ‘chicken and bean sprout Street’ which is an experience that could only be described as timeless and unique in the way the food taste as well as the memories imprinted into one’s memory by the sheer atmosphere of the place. The seed of which was planted in those years slowly grew into this unstoppable passion for, not just food, but dining experiences that could bring about someone’s ‘best and most memorable’.<br /><br />Throughout my career, I have worked towards the sole objective of gaining as diverse a range of experience in the world of food and dining as I possibly can. With my passion and ambition deeply rooted with Food. Between the age of 12 and 16, whilst indulging the process of growing up in the seasonal resort town of Great Yarmouth, I did spells of work in Indian restaurant kitchens, Chinese takeaway kitchens, a 3* hotel breakfast kitchen, Delicatessan, Cheese counters, a traditional bakery, staff canteens, and a Chinese Dimsum kitchen. Like a sponge, I soaked up all the passion, knowledge and experience I could, whilst spending all my spare time reading, experimenting and tasting food which is still the case till this very day.<br /><br />The two years that I spent in college studying a BTEC National Diploma in Science, was also when my full time career started off. To support myself financially, I seeked employment at the local Pizza Hut of Yum! International where I learnt to manage a kitchen which ran at 130% capacity for 3 months of the year and barely scraping 30% the rest of the year, with extremely stringent standards to adhere to . What started off as being just a part time job being a pizza boy, turned out to be a lot more than that. I made my mark within the company and developed a good network in the East Anglian circuit of the brand within a considerably short period of time and very swiftly rose through the ranks to a multi-site management position. I learnt a huge amount by ways of advanced management systems & corporate business development. I was lucky enough to be assigned to several new restaurant opening projects, a few of which I headed within my own field of expertise which gave me priceless project management experience, which compliments well with the repertoire of financial and operational management roles I had up till then. Though very involved with the corporate management culture, my heart was still very much tied to the kitchen. I continued my personal studies on food and was still regularly spending some nights off from the corporate world in professional kitchens helping out my friends who were in need of a spare pair of hands.<br /><br />After several years and having gained a very solid foundation and deep understanding of the corporate world, I found myself being offered the opportunity to head up a small, city centre boutique bar and restaurant operation in Norwich, Norfolk which had all the potential but required a complete total revamp and an injection of character and personality. As opposing to my previous experience of managing a teams of between 60-100 staff churning out high volume medium yield transactions with an annual gross of £1million or above, Bedfords Bar & Restaurant was more of a team of 10-14 low volume high yield operation grossing a third or less than the former. But it was by no means easier, in fact quite so the contrary.<br /><br />Working alongside my employer turned good friend, we set out to transform the business from a old out of date old boy’s club to a hip, chic, happening place, with a locally acclaimed fine-dining venue. In the 3 years of heading that business, I had established a fair reputation as chef and businessman both in the public eye as well as amongst fellow professionals within the city. It was also during this time that my personal style of cooking and operation fully blossomed and matured. I was also lucky enough to have worked with some amazing unsung heroes within the industry whom I made no secret of learning and extracting experience from. Business was good, I was at a point whereby I was ready to take the next step up o9n my personal development ladder, with opportunities already presenting themselves, an unfortunate twist of fate occurred. Due to reasons caused by no fault of my own, I was left with no choice but to leave my career, my friends and most importantly my newly wedded wife who I met within the industry, to go back to Malaysia for an indefinite period of time. My story was heavily covered by the local media. The business community and the industry were extremely supportive by spearheading a media support campaign to pressurise the authorities to reconsider my position.<br /><br />With anything up to 18 months in Malaysian soil which I hadn’t set foot on for over 8 years, I set out to make it a productive chapter of my career as well as my life. It took me a short few weeks to refamiliarise myself with the multilingual culture, but it didn’t take half as long for me to re-discover the multicultural food-led way of living Malaysia is so well known for. Malaysia is indeed a heaven for anyone who has a love for cultural food or ‘contextual dining’ as I’d like to call it. It was clear that I had no choice but to rediscover my Malaysian roots and exploit it for any and every ounce of food related experience it can offer. I was also fortunate enough to find employment in a procurement & export firm which specialised in Malaysian & south East Asian speciality food products and ingredients exporting to the USA, which put me in contact with a lot of food manufacturers and producers, which gave me priceless insights into the production of many ingredients, such as soya sauce, beansprouts, sauce, sesame oil, tofu etc that even in western kitchens we use day in day out but take for granted its painstaking production.<br /><br />I also managed to get myself appointed as the Campaigning and Operations director for the Democratic Action Party at the State assembly Constituency level for the recently concluded Malaysian General Election, where I was in essence the chief of staff for the candidate, responsible for scheduling, planning and executing rallies, dinners, press conferences, closed door meetings and the security and wellbeing of the candidate. We won the seat with a 75% majority as well as the state governing power. I am currently the still serving in an advisory/consultative capacity for the constituency as well as the state assembly representative for planning, executing and managing of events proposed by the party. Needless to say, both appointments played a vital role in my decision to start this business. But the decision was solidified and put in to action shortly after the election when I started being asked by guests in the events I have co-ordinated to do the same for them. I now have a significant portfolio of clients in the Northern part of Peninsular Malaysia It seemed like fate wanted its share in moulding my Curriculum Vitae.<br /><br />The year of being in Malaysia, also known to some as my year’s enforced sabbatical in the orient, has understandably got me back in touch with my oriental roots. With the so-called sabbatical, I have gained a deeper understanding of fundamentals of food pairing and have developed a newfound style of food. Without the daily grind and pressures of running a bar, restaurant and kitchen, I have been able to dedicate more, time, attention and energy to creating food as opposing to having to turn out results for the customers. Predominantly using south east Asian food concepts and combinations with diverse use of Chinese herbs and spices, but remaining grounded with familiar European influenced techniques backed with scientific methodologies, I believe this style of cooking is as exciting and interesting for me as a chef as it is for you and your guests at your dinner party.<br /><br />Advocating on behalf of the proverbial devil, I would also like to clarify my position as a professional; an artist; an artisan; a craftsman or maybe simply a chef. I’d like to believe that what I, and my colleagues (fellow chefs) within the catering industry do is none short of practicing a sacred discipline or providing an artisanal expertise/craft that demands respect and recognition for the same reason artists, musicians, film makers do. We have the duty and responsibility, not to mention well-earned right to express ourselves creatively through our work, and more often than not, we’re forgotten about because to enjoy the fruits of our art form is a very ephemeral experience - one minute you are savouring all it's qualities and the next it is a distant memory! Most art is around for considerably longer periods and that is sometimes a good thing because most Art takes time to fully appreciate it. The legacy that is left by each moment of gastronomic experience may not leave much physical evidence though the psychological/mnemonic traces that it has the potential to leave, is scientifically proven to be measurably deeper than an experience conjured by any other artform. I can honestly and trutfully say that my first rare-aberdeen angus T-bone is still maturing as a memory, despite the fact that it happened 16 years ago. Experiences that I had but didn’t know I was having, (you don’t know what you don’t know), are slowly presenting themselves as marked memories, as I gain more knowledge of the Physical and psychological aspects of a dining experience. What was just piece of meat with weird taste and texture in a really brightly lit place with lots of noise and and laughter, is now a very positively different picture in my mind, all because I now have a deeper (though still limitless more to learn) understanding of the everything there is to know about having an experience.Howard Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06742113162393120597noreply@blogger.com0