The Rape of Penang

Notice proximity of existing buildings
stop work order issued, blasting continues
protesters arguing their case


I suppose an apology is in order. Sorry for the extended inactivity on this blog. The hippie simply OD'd!

Well, a lot has happened over the last two months. There was Christmas, the New Year and recently, the Lunar New Year. In between all the celebration, there were also quite a bit of developments on the political front. Actually it was the political on goings that drove this hippie back to the commune, just to get away from it all. Things went so bad that I did not know how to get my message across without getting myself in trouble, so I decided to head back to the commune to re-live my youth!

The great Malaysian circus is on the road again, currently playing in Perak, with promotions being done in Kedah, Selangor and Penang. Never mind the circus, I shall not dwell on them. Today, I want to feature Gerakan's legacy of hill slope development to the people of Penang. After the 1991 Highland Towers debacle, the Federal government saw fit to introduce guidelines to all State governments to stop all development on Class IV hill slopes. The last State government, headed by this nerdy looking gentleman, ignored these guidelines and approved several such hill slope development projects. Not only that, he actually approved a couple of high rise developments in the city centre and thereby threatening our newly acquired Unesco Heritage status!

Repeated appeals by the Tanjung Bungah Residents Association seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. There was a ray of hope earlier when the current State government, headed by the DAP, actually issued a stop work order to one of these projects. Shortly after, probably a day or two later, work at site resumed. They continued their blasting of the hill slopes, which IS ongoing! Angry and frustrated, the members of the Residents Association organized a gathering to voice their displeasure. I am glad to inform readers that there were no incidents even though the PDRM was present! In fact the credit should actually go the PDRM because it was rare to see them so well behaved!

While the Tanjung Bungah residents gathered to protest, the Deputy Works Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd. Zin bin Mohamed, declared that in spite of controversies involving hill slope developments, there shall be no blanket ban on such projects. He offered a most bizarre explanation for the decision, claiming that a growing population and the scarcity of land has made it necessary!

Though many are blaming the past administration for approving these projects, I think the current administration's failure to effect the stop work order should be looked at! Was it lip service during the run up to the elections? The DAP assemblyman for Tanjung Bungah was present at the protest and he declared that as a backbencher there was only so much that he could do! Why do I find politicians from both sides of the divide more convincing before they are elected?

I hope something positive will come out of this exercise because there is a good chance that things might get ugly soon. I am saying so after speaking to an active member of the Residents Association. Apparently while putting up a banner to "SAVE THE HILLS" he was spotted by an employee of the contractor. The following day, all four of his car tires were punctured!

POSTING PERTAMA...

Sunset di Alor Setar

Salam sejahtera semua...Posting yang pertama di dalam LeftOver Hippies...Mari kita sama2 renungkan potongan dibawah ini...

"Mana ada ini macam lain tempat? Mana boleh lu cakap lain bahasa, gua cakap lain bahasa, itu orang pun cakap lain bahasa? Mana boleh semua orang keras kepala mau cakap sendiri punya bahasa? Ini negara Malaysia, kita kena cakap Bahasa Malaysia. Apasal susah sangat? Lu pergi Jepun lu kena cakap Jepun. Lu pergi China lu kena cakap Mandarin. Lu pergi England lu kena cakap Inggeris. Lu pergi Rusia lu kena cakap Rusia. Kita sama-sama duduk Malaysia lu tak mau cakap Bahasa Malaysia? Kenapa? Malaysia “special case” ka? Siapa cakap? Siapa bikin ini macam? Dalam semua-semua Negara dalam ini dunia, apasal Malaysia kena jadi “special case”? Untuk siapa? Lu atau gua? "

Aku dapat potongan diatas dari SINI. Artikel ini tidak berniat langsung untuk mencerca atau mengutuk sesiapa yang hidup atau yang mati, tetapi hanya sebagai meluahkan perasaan penulis.

Sabtu minggu lalu, aku berkesempatan berjumpa dengan kawan2 ku yang lama tak jumpa. "Tar Ke", adalah gelaran yang diberi kepada kawan aku yang berbangsa Malaysia walaupun menjalani hidup didalam sebuah keluarga Cina. "Tar Ke" bermaksud abang yang tua, kalau tak silap aku. Seorang lagi dikenali sebagai "Two Tone", nama yang diberi oleh Tar Ke kerana rambutnya bertukar warna dari hitam ke kelabu...juga berbangsa Malaysia.

Walaupun kami dah berkawan agak lama dan rapat, tetapi kami masih berkomunikasi dalam bahasa penjajah dahulu, iaitu Inggeris. Depa kata English tu 2nd language. Tapi bahasa apa kah yang 1st?

Kami bersantai di tepi pantai, belakang Chinese Swimming Club, berborak borak dan bercakap sesuka hati kami tanpa menghiraukan waktu. Ramai yang datang dan pergi tetapi kami bertiga lah yang tetap tidak berubah tempat sehinggalah "BINI" Tar Ke suruh dia balik. Hahahaa. Tar Ke ni bukan taku bini, cuma bini tak takut padanya.

Aku disuruh komen tentang YOGA dan beberapa isu lagi berkenaan Islam dan Melayu, walaupun aku ni seorang Bangsa Malaysia. Aku komen setakat yang mampu dan setakat yang aku percaya kebenarannya. Kalau nak dengar seperti ulamak, kena lah tanya Pejabat Ugama.

Apa yang aku nak sampaikan disini sebenarnya ialah, kenapa aku boleh menerima kehadiran lain2 bangsa didalam jiwa ku, tetapi tidak saudara2 ku yang berkokok sana sini untuk menjadi TUAN kepada Bangsa Malaysia? Sampai bilakah kita nak berkelompok didalam satu negara? Sampai bilakah aku perlu bertutur dalam BAhasa Inggeris kepada saudara2 Bangsa Malaysia ku yang lain? Bagaimanakah aku nak menceritakan tentang Bangsa Malaysia apabila aku sendiri bertutur dalam bahasa Inggeris, kepunyaan Bangsa Inggeris? ANCHUA???

Andrew, Nigel, YuHin, Budak pakai baju PINK, selamat berkenalan...

Dreams and Sleep Talking

Forty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream. Forty years later, his dream was realized, Barrack Obama, an African American became the President elect of the United States of America. While Martin Luther King was dreaming 40 years ago, the Malaysian Prime Minister was found sleep talking today!

He said that anyone could become the Prime Minister of Malaysia, even those from the minority group! Did I hear right? If I did, then I am sure he was sleep talking! Do we hear any other UMNO leaders echoing his claim? The response to Zaid Ibrahim from the senior leaders of UMNO would be enough to indicate if these people can be as magnanimous as the Americans.

Frankly, it is just not only the UMNO Malays, some Chinese too are also guilty of racial discrimination of some extent. Recent developments after the March 8 political tsunami was proof enough of such misconduct, even in the State assemblies. Insistence on a Malay being the Deputy MB, assemblymen refusing to wear the songkok, these are very narrow thinking. Appointment of acting general manager of PKNS has already generated so much resistance and dare we hope for a Prime Minister from a minority group? Can it really happen? Remember, these are the very people who felt so threatened by yoga!

Until and unless they can ditch the so-called “Social Contract” and this myth about “Ketuanan Melayu”, for us it is still a dream. We shall not let this dream die; we cannot afford to let it die! March 8 has given us hope; there will be light at the end of the tunnel. RPK must not go to jail in vain. We must persevere!

Can't you get it right?

Since 1969 the MCA has done nothing to champion the cause of the Malaysian Chinese. If at anytime they appeared to have done so, it was more lip service than action. They were experts at hoodwinking the people they claim to represent. Together with UMNO and the MIC, they forged a sinister partnership to rape the country. Taking the cue from the colonial masters, the trio divided and ruled the nation.

They fed the people with lies and breadcrumbs, giving them hope and satisfying their hunger pangs. The people knew not that their dreams for a better tomorrow or a brighter future for their children would never materialize! From the urban Chinese sundry shop owner to the Malay farmers and the Indian estate workers, all were hoping against hope, while the politicians were busy amassing wealth. Not only that, they saw to it that this stranglehold over the nation’s wealth shall remain in the hands of the elite few!

As they got bolder they began to falter. Soon, the people got wise to their ploy and resentment started building up. With the advent of the internet and as people became better informed, sentiments towards the unholy trinity of UMNO, MCA and MIC changed. Opposition parties, buoyed by a resurgent Anwar, took advantage and campaigned vociferously to throw out the incumbents. The elections came and the results were shocking! Never in their life did the opposition imagine they could swing it so much. Much of the credit for this incredible showing by the opposition should go to Raja Petra Kamarrudin, a member of the Selangor Royal Household, now languishing in jail! Anwar was the vehicle, Abang Pete is the hero!

The results have necessitated an impending change in the UMNO leadership, while the MCA has already changed their President. The MIC should follow suit by the time they convene their AGM.

It is now obvious to the MCA that the Chinese in the country have rejected them. In fact a large portion of the electorate are now talking about and welcoming the early days of a two party system. Generally, the electorate is of the opinion that the days of race-based political parties are numbered! However, the unholy trinity is still pushing their race-based agenda, with UMNO championing ketuanan Melayu even more vocally.

Ong Tee Keat, the newly elected President of the MCA is said to be a man with his hands full. He ought to be. His is a mixed team, meaning not all are his preferred lieutenants. The giant headache I suppose would be his number two. It is usual for the MCA deputy President to be made a Minister, but how are you going to propose a porn star as a Minister to the Prime Minister? It must be this quagmire that has resulted in his state of delirium. Instead of instructing all MCA MPs to endorse the petition to debate the review/repeal of the ISA, which the MCA, in the run up to their election have committed to do so, he is now championing the cause of the Malays, whom he perceived have not benefited from the NEP!

IS KETUANAN RAKYAT A MYTH?

The March 8 tsunami has had different effects on different segments of Malaysian society. While UMNO and their supporters were stunned and shocked, others rejoiced. The aftermath of the elections were such that it had the BN components running around like decapitated chickens. Equally lost were the so-called victors. They had never ruled before!

After some bickering and horse-trading, the various State governments were eventually formed. They differences they had were usually about the racial make-up of the State cabinets and silly things like Chinese assemblymen refusing to wear the songkok and so forth.

Perhaps the euphoria was too much, too strong for both the PR leaders as well as the supporters, us. Am I glad to be reminded by Harris Ibrahim in his posting titled “IS PAKATAN RAKYAT PERPETUATING RACE-BASED POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE?

Politicians, opposition or otherwise have proven to be the same. They reneged on election pledges, that is the gist of the matter. The PR parties, various NGOs, you, me, all signed that declaration (The People’s Voice and the People’s Declaration) rejecting race-based politics and ushering in Bangsa Malaysia.

Though the Selangor MB has defended the appointment of a Chinese as Acting GM of PKNS, the reason offered is totally rubbish. In the first place, all SEDCs, irrespective of which State, is for the development of the State concerned, it says nothing about specifically developing the Malays! Now I am not so sure I heard right when Anwar Ibrahim was screaming “Ketuanan Rakyat”. Have we been had?

Now I am beginning to have doubts about “Ketuanan Rakyat” and the Pakatan Rakyat. Harris Ibrahim has shown that his Bangsa Malaysia initiative is more consistent.

LEFTOVERHIPPIES SALUTES YOU, HARRIS IBRAHIM

THE DREAM MERCHANTS

The American economy has taken a tremendous beating beginning with the sub-prime mess. Regular rate cuts by the Feds did not help and recently the US government poured billions of dollars to try to arrest the situation. Over in Europe, several banks had to be bailed out and even our neighbour Singapore has announced that they are in recession!

So far, Iceland, Pakistan and Ukraine are some of the countries that have approached the IMF for help. The IMF with $250 billion in their kitty has the financial circles questioning if it has enough to go around if more nations needed help. In short, the world economic picture is grim!

Here at home, the Finance Minister has assured the Rakyat that we are well prepared to weather the storm! His boss, was even better, he claims the agricultural sector shall be able to cushion any effects of the downturn! The PM sleeps, the DPM dreams!

These guys are simply marvelous. On one hand they tell us everything is fine, on the other hand they want to borrow RM 5 billion from the Employees Provident Fund to inject into the stock market. Meanwhile, the local bourse has suffered hefty losses. One wonders what is it that they are trying to do. Are they intentionally insulting our intelligence? Or are they simply lost, not knowing how to respond to the situation? Or, is this their last hurrah, considering the fact that soon a new government shall be in place?

Deepavali

Greetings to one and all!

NEW LINE-UP, SAME FILTH

About 40 plus days ago, the UMNO led government saw fit to invoke the much-dreaded ISA and arrested prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, opposition MP Teresa Kok and “Sin Chew” reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng. The arrests sparked off some strong protests from the general public.

Politicians from both sides of the divide condemned the arrests. It was unprecedented, but the likes of keris waving Hishamuddin and senior leaders of both the MCA and Gerakan also questioned the wisdom of invoking this horrendous piece of legislature. Zaid Ibrahim, the de facto Law Minister then, resigned, claiming that the Home Minister had abused ISA and thereby making his (Zaid’s) position untenable!

The Gerakan leaders of Penang declared that they would sever ties with UMNO Penang and the party as whole was re-looking at their relevance in the BN coalition. Tough talk indeed! The MCA too, was very vocal about the ISA and pledge to press for a review/repeal of this draconian law. The BN politicians finally saw the light, we thought, but we were so wrong! They have learned nothing from the March 8 tsunami.

Recently, the MCA had their elections and a totally new team was put in place. My fellow contributor on this blog, featured them in his post. I commented that it is no big deal and the MCA were just a mere bunch of sycophants and scumbags beholden to UMNO. I was accused of not giving them a chance. How could I? I just do not trust them! I was proven right.

A couple of days after their (MCA) elections, opposition MP Teresa Kok moved a motion in Parliament seeking a Parliamentary Debate on the review/repeal of the ISA. To-date, only 77 MPs have signed the petition. One BN member, two independents (SAPP) and the rest were from Pakatan Rakyat. Where are the MCA and the Gerakan? Both were so vocal at the height of the ISA arrests. It is obvious that both the MCA and Gerakan are not here to serve the Rakyat.

A SIX YEAR OLD THREAT TO THE NATION

In true “Malaysia Boleh” spirit, Malaysia must have just scored another first! This time for the arrest of a six-year-old child! I simply cannot fathom what harm a six-year old girl can do that she be arrested?

Did the police acted on their own or were they ordered by some stupid minister to do so? Whichever the case, I do believe this cannot happen anywhere else in the world. What government is this that can feel so threatened by a six year old?

If the present regime can resort to something like this, I dread the day when the despot returns in the form of Najib!

DSAI, you better be quick, because if you take too long, I am sure the despot will make you sodomize a third person! I thought you only needed our votes to win, but now it seems, you also need the grace of God to do so. The fate of the Malaysians are resting with you, act before it is too late!

SAMAD LEFTHANDED

KUALA LUMPUR, THURS:

A guitarist with rock band Lefthanded, Abdul Samad Mian died after he collapsed at his brother’s office in Ampang here, today. He was 45.

The deceased’s wife, Norliza Sumairi said Samad collapsed at 12.45pm and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Ampang Hospital.

Samad will be buried at the Hulu Langat Muslim Cemetery this afternoon.

He is survived by his wife and four children aged between six and 18 years.

Born in Johor Baru, he had served as a part-time lecturer at the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy and was instrumental in Lefthanded winning the best rock album award at the Malaysian Music Industry Awards in 1995.

HOMO SAPIEN MAaa....

Tsk, tsk, tsk...You guys are not giving a chance at all to the new MCA line up to prove their mettle at all. Not even a lil bit of time to see how they settle down and what not. Every body deserve a second chance.

With a party such as MCA, with all their capabilities and their professionals helming the party, it will be strong enough to fight for the rakyats needs. With such a line up and still you guys are not feeling at ease. Democracy has prevailed in MCA. No party in Malaysia till now has elected an actor as the No.2 man in the organisation. Reagan in the US. Arnold Schwarzenneger also in US. What was that lady's name in Italy? The pornstar that was also elected as a rep in Parliament. Well..MCA has shown the way.

They are even asking the no2 post in BN now. DPM too I heard. Well this is what Anwar Al Jub has been harping all this while. Two tone! If you don't support who else gonna support? Give them a break lah. They are human. They make mistakes. They get greedy. They want power. They want respect. Humans ma... So does PKR, DAP, Gerakan and PAS..All are humans ma...

MCA LINEUP

THE NEW BIG SHOTS IN MCA

DATUK SRK

When the scramble started for the post of VP of UMNO, Tun Mahathir says other than Muhyiddin others are jokers or in malay he says "pak lawak".

Then came the news that Shah rukh Khan was awarded datukship by the Malacca govt. Could that be the work of the so called pak lawak? Well this pak lawak denies and said Tun Daim propose. Who is Daim now? A millionaire before he joins the cabinet and a billionaire when he left? Is that the Daim he's referring to? Must they kowtow to him?

Datukship Awards is now being put to a new light altogether. Or are they trying to turn it into an affair like the Bollywood Film award or the Grammy/Emmy Award kinda thing? Really lawaklah this one. None of the citizen in Malaysia could surpass what has been contributed by SRK to Malacca I guess. What did he actually contribute to Malacca?

The pak lawak mention wants to be the 2nd man in UMNO and by tradition he would probably be the Deputy PM...Whose next on the award list then..Jet Li? Amitabh Bachan? Jenna Jameson maybe...

OPEN HOUSE ANWAR

11TH OCTOBER 2008
KELAB SULTAN SULAIMAN

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

Dali's interpretation of Don Quixote

El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de La Manca(The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha) si an early novel written by a Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.

It is also recognised as one of the finest and most influential literary piece from the Spanish Goden Age. This novel was written some in the 17th century. Some 400 years later, the Americans came up with an equivalent to Don Quixote. In 1939, American writer James Thurber, wrote "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty" acknowledged to be Thurber's masterpiece. It was made into a movie in 1947, starring Danny Kaye.

Original Book Cover

Movie Poster

Malaysia refusing to be outdone come out with a real life version,.Thanks to Mahathir.

He is holding the "Worst Prime Minister Award".

SALAM AIDIL FITRI !

Season greetings to all and maaf zahir bathin! On this joyous occasion let us not forget the less fortunate.

I have just read and signed the online petition:

"Free Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Teresa Kok and Others Held Under the Internal Security Act"

hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition
service, at:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/isa1234/

I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might
agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider
signing yourself.

Best wishes,

RAYA

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI..TO ALL...

I'm not sending out this greetings to the Muslims only but to all Malaysians coz I consider all of us are Malaysians and we should be sharing all festivities without any prejudice...

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RPK. May the rest of your birthdays be better than this one!

IT'S QUIET AT THE FRONT!

It's supposed to be D-Day today. Nope, things are still quiet and looks like an uneventful day. Hopefully we get to see some excitement the later part of the day.

ISA DETAINEE RELEASED

DAP Seputeh MP, Ms Teresa Kok has been released from detention under the ISA. She was released about an hour ago and is expected to call a press conference later today.