Three things that Dr M and Zaid have in common - www.malaysiakini.com

Sacked Umno member and former

MCPX

de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim is doubtful if the ruling party is capable of reform as pledged following its dismal showing in the March 8 polls. Zaid, who was given the boot on Tuesday for having close ties with the opposition, lamented that some leaders in Umno could not accept his open-minded approaches and views. At a press conference in Petaling Jaya today, the former minister was asked if Umno is capable of reforms, to which he replied: "I doubt they (the leaders) can..."The criticism against me was because they cannot accept these ideas of change. (Otherwise) why are they so angry with me? What have I done? They can't accept these changes," he said. Among others, he said, certain party leaders could not accept his stand on wanting to make the Malays more independent. (Source: Malaysiakini)
Actually, Dr M and Zaid have some things in common. Both were sacked from Umno - Dr M sacked himself, Zaid sacked by Supreme Council. Also, both say there is no 'Ketuanan Melayu'. Dr M said it in the latest interview by Riz Khan of Al Jazeera. Lastly, both believe in self-made Malays without 'crutches' from the govt - that they have to work hard to succeed and finally, earn the title 'TUAN'!

Govt saves in subsidies, rakyat still not saving - www.malaysiakini.com

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to reduce pump prices by another 48 cents as well as to allow a revision of petrol prices on a daily basis...“Based on historical trends at a price of US$48 per barrel, the petrol price should be RM1.52 per liter set on May 5, 2005 and not RM1.90 as announced by the government," said Lim, who is also the Bagan MP. In arguing his point, Lim referred to a chart published in a blog, anilnetto.com, which compared the prices of crude oil - from Oct 1, 2000 to Nov 17, 2008 - with pump prices set by the government. Lim said the people have the right to enjoy the significant savings of RM10 billion following Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad's announcement the government could save this much in subsidies. (Malaysiakini - Petrol prices should be RM1.53)
No doubt the drop in petrol price has lightened the burden of motorists but the prices of other stuff remain the same. I think LGE should not ask for further reduction in pump prices. Why? Reason being we are still paying much less compared to other countries. ;)

Umno supreme council against the small guys - www.malaysiakini.com

Umno Supreme Council today sacked Zaid Ibrahim from the party for attending opposition events. Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made the announcement at about 11.30pm after chairing the supreme council meeting at party headquarters in Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur. On another matter, Abdullah said that the council also discussed the situation involving Seberang Jaya state assemblyperson Arif Shah Omar Shah who was reportedly being allured by the PKR. Abdullah said that Arif Shah had met him and told him of his intention to remain in Umno. The supreme council also decided to suspend the Petaling Jaya Umno division chief Zahar Hashim for three years with immediate effect. Zahar had previously been involved in lodging an Anti-Corruption Agency report against Abdullah for abusing his position as the Umno president in the run-up to party polls and nominations. (Malaysiakini: Umno sacks Zaid)

Not too long ago, Muhiyiddin said Zaid was just a small guy. I guess Arif also another small guy. So is Zahar who's being 'punished' for making a report against Pak Lah. Ah, all the small guys better don't mess with the big guys in Supreme Council but then again, the big guys better not underestimate power of the small guys who form the base support of the party.

Stimulation or simulation?

What's the difference between stimulation and simulation? One is spelt without the 't'.

Well, I was not very sure if 'simulation' was 'stimulation' or vice versa until yesterday when I was writing a note for a case that I was working on.

Just to be sure, I went to check the Free Online Dictionary. It defines stimulation as the act of arousing an organism to action, any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action, (physiology) the effect of a stimulus (on nerves or organs etc.) or mutual sexual fondling prior to sexual intercourse - none of the meanings that I was looking for.

Then, the one without the 't' - simulation. Meaning: The act or process of simulating, an imitation; a sham, assumption of a false appearance, imitation or representation, as of a potential situation or in experimental testing - yes, this is the 'simulation' that I wanted - a mock-up, a model. Hehehe. 8-))

Close down vernacular schools - I agree - www.malaysiakini.com

Jerlun member of parliament Mukhriz Mahathir today slammed MCA and Gerakan leaders for ‘overreacting' over the Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) issue. He blamed the vernacular school system for the polarised society which caused the poor understanding of the Malay supremacy concept among the non-Malays..."The government can foster greater unity by streamlining all the schools under one education system where the medium of teaching, besides Science and Mathematics, are taught in Bahasa Malaysia. "We can make it compulsory that the Chinese and Indians study their own language in their mother tongue while these two languages can be optional for Malay students to learn or we can make it compulsory for students to learn at least three languages," he suggested. (Mukhriz: Close down vernacular schools - Malaysiakini)

Frankly, I am for vernacular schools to be closed down but don't just blame them alone. Is the current national school system 'inclusive' enough or is it just the non-Malays expected to be assimilated into the culture of the Malays and indirectly, Islam? Will other religions be 'sidelined'??

Father's First: Janson's infectious laughter

One of my ex-collegmates, a father of two kids, said to me, 'You're in for a good treat as Janson grows. They are most fun to play with during ~8 to 9 mths onwards.'

How true. I enjoyed watching Janson's infectious laughter as mommy tossed grandpa's gift box. 8D

Thank You Jesus for the good treat that comes from watching babes grow.

Isaiah 53

1 Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9 And they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.