Permatang Pauh By-Election

The result was out (9:50pm - MalaysiaKini, 11:00pm - TheStar). Anwar Ibrahim (PR-PKR) got 31,195 votes. Arif Shah Omar Shah (BN-UMNO) 15,524 votes. Hanafi Hamat (Ind-Akim) 92 votes. 599 votes were ruled to be spoilt. This sum up to 81.1% voter turnout, or 47,410 out of 58,459 registered voters.

The support for Anwar and PKR has not changed so much. Rather, there were more support shown in the by-election, as Wan Azizah's majority vote margin of 13,388 in March 8 was broken by her husband's 15,671 majority vote, amid the sodomy allegation against him. Anwar was combating on a non-level playing field at PKR's disadvantage, and yet able to win. The ultra intensive attention poured out by BN, particularly Najib Abdul Razak who spent most of his time campaigning for his comrade (Arif Shah), was useless. All the campaign ceramahs, money, and tactics poured by BN to discredit Anwar seemed not helpful at all. The people in Permatang Pauh who have voted against BN have, in one voice, spoke directly to BN that all the efforts to fish for votes do and will not work. And more importantly, BN need to be receptive of these many-fold messages.

To many people, it was malicious to have the polling day set on Tuesday rather than on weekend. This decision by Election Committee had indeed created a major hindrance to the voters in Permatang Pauh, compromising the basic citizen rights of 58,459 registered voters. As an ultimate counter-action to safeguard their citizen rights, Penang CM Lim Guan Eng, with his power in his office, declared a holiday on the polling day. And, salute to the voters, the turnout rate was slightly better than March 8 election. Imagine, more voters are willing to turn out at polling stations on a weekday. The have chosen to rank their basic rights above anything else!

One person I would really salute: Hanafi Hamat. Having harvested only 92 votes throughout the polling hours, he was doomed to have his deposit lost in the by-election. Yet, he was there during the official announcement of the final results. He stayed at the battle till the end, even though it was obvious that he was going to lose - I guess throughout the 4-hour vote counting period, by the 3rd hour he should have known that he's lost. Salute to him!

On the other hand, it was reported that Arif Shah was nowhere to be found during the official announcement. Where was he? Why did he disappear instead of facing the truth there and then? Although he's lost in the by-election, he is still a legitimate state assemblyman of N10 Seberang Jaya constituency. The best that he could actually do was to show face, and let the voters that voted for him now as well as back in March 8 felt that he was still a hero and a sporting contestant among them. His very action of disappearing would cost him a disaster in his upcoming career as an assemblyman, as he had failed to honor the votes that has been cast for him. I do not know how Seberang Jaya voters would feel, but out of empathy, I would feel disheartened to have such an assemblyman.

Well, I guess the one person that did turn a sour face was Najib. Najib ranted that he was disappointed at the action of aggressive stopping of 5 buses by PKR supporters, who believed that those buses ferry phantom voters. According to Najib, the buses are supposed to ferry BN supporters. He also added that PKR did bring in supporters from outside. Well, one thing sure is that, the police had announced a day earlier that non-voters were advised not to step into Permatang Pauh. Which means, be it BN supporters from outside or PKR supporters from outside, they were not supposed to be there. In addition, even if the 5 buses contain phantom voters or BN supporters, it would not improve much on BN's vote count. Rather than feeling disappointed, Najib should gracefully accept the defeat, and spend some time pondering how he could listen more to the rakyat's needs and fulfilling it. In any case, the win by Anwar does pose a great threat to Najib, as both are called prime minister in-waiting.

Throughout the 10 days of campaigning and polling, Malaysians could see from different angles the true colors of many politicians and supporters, and experience one of the greatest political wrestle for votes of all times. It is indeed the mother of all by-elections.

Picture above is courtesy of MalaysiaKini.

The Magic Charm For Fuel Price Drop

I was reading one of the most recent vox populi (voices of the people) compilation from MalaysiaKini, and was amused at one of the response. It sounded like this:

Jo Dumas: As if March 8 was not enough evidence, the lowering of oil prices is again a sign of Anwar being a lucky charm for this country. He's not even in Parliament yet and he has been able to lower oil prices. Just imagine what this country would be destined for if he was in parliament, or even if he was the prime minister. This proves scare-mongers and doom-sayers like Khairy wrong.

Hey, it is a good reverse psychology, voiced out by a true intelligent Malaysian! Well, if the non-intelligent people can use reverse psychology to hand out bogus pamphlets, what the more intelligent rakyat can do!

How true it is, that Anwar is, even right now, in control of the direction the fuel prices are going. If there is no by-election, our 'beloved' PM would have kept his promise in reviewing fuel prices after Sept 1, and not announced price slash on Aug 22. Cool! Anwar is indeed powerful.

Haiya... I should not have puked on number four. It is indeed a good sign anyway. Thanks for the reminder, Jo Dumas. And, thanks to Pak Lah for giving us back 15 sen and helping us know who is more powerful!

Shameless Ng

Today, another fresh news from MalaysiaKini stated that Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen openly handed out envelopes containing RM200 to 156 Chinese elderly at a function in Permatang Pauh. In addition, Ng called on those present to support the BN as she emphasised that the ruling coalition was a government which took care of everyone.

As reported in MalaysiaKini, she denied the money she gave was a form of bribery, and she stressed that neither was it a form of election goodies. She said the money was given out by the National Welfare Foundation, a government-linked non-profit organisation she heads. According to her, it was a mere coincident that the financial aid came in at the sensitive time of the by-election. She added that it was an annual activity organised by the foundation.

When I read the news, I thought right away: Wah, she really did that ah? Nope, I have not puked anything yet, although I just had a heavy dinner.

Annual activity? It is indeed a low-profile annual activity indeed. Other than the over-publicized annual activity that happened to happen today, I have not heard of the foundation doing any charity work. Never have I heard of the foundation giving out money to the elderly.

Having said that, if the money is for welfare purpose, it should be done in sincerety. Means, you give and never ask anything in return. Anyway, it's not for this particular case - so much insincerety as perceived from MalaysiaKini's report.

Now the questions: What the heck was she doing when she talked about supporting BN? What is government taking care of everyone gotta do with the donation receipients' rights to choose their wakil rakyat? Why was the money from a welfare foundation given unwillingly? Why do you tell the receipients to support BN if the money is given for welfare? Why bother asking the receipients do this and that - why do the receipients need to fill up forms, photocopy their IC, and give their thumbprints? What kind of form is that? The rakyat want to know! And, do you ever request signature from a person receiving donation from you? Rubbish!!

Coincidence? I also want that kind of coincidence, especially on money matters, or else I would not be painstakingly blogging!! Really... you think we Malaysians are stupid ah? How can she expect everyone to be stupid?

I really can't believe it! She dares to do that - what a shameless act!!

Enough said. My breath is not smooth now (我好唔顺气). I just want to ask Ng Yen Yen one more question... Do you know how to write "shame" in Chinese characters (知道<丑>字怎样写吗)?

My number six (topping up the earlier five). UEKKKKKKK!!!

Basketball And TGIF Again

Last Sunday's basketball turnout rate is kinda disappointing, as there were only 6 of us: Andre, Derrick, Jorge (Davis), Boris, Kwok Weng, and I. It was kinda expected, as the dark clouds were hovering above the sky - just like the gigantic saucer in ID4. :-P



As expected, when we were about to start our 3-on-3, 8-point, best-of-5 game, it started drizzling. There are pros and cons playing in the rain. Pros - it was cooling, we did not get tired or thirsty that easily, and it slowed down the game. Cons - it was bad for catching a cold, and it was too slippery that we might end up tripping or spraining our ankles.

The team setting was like this: Andre, Derrick, Kwok Weng vs Jorge, David, Boris. My team won two games, but due to my many mistakes, we lost two games thereafter. On the fifth game, we were leading with 7-6, when we were kicked out of the court, firstly because it was late (about 8pm), secondly because the rain was getting heavier. Unofficially we won. A tiring game indeed - my inner thighs are still aching now.

Next, we had dinner in TGIF. We happened to know that day itself, that it was Kwok Weng's birthday. Since it was Kwok Weng's first time in TGIF, he was not aware of what he would go through. We knew... heheh! And so, Kwok Weng ordered a serving of chicken fettucini... (sorry, Andre, what was that sauce?), while the rest ordered hamburgers with fries. What a hearty meal! We were also busy watching Astro sports channel on the Closing Ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. I was also doing something online with my wife (my laptop lar...).

And finally, the show began. The TGIF waiters and waitresses, 4 of them altogether, came and presented Kwok Weng with a chocolate cake for birthday. With a price - to stand on the chair and sing a song in front of everybody, and to blow the candle from a distance of, like, 2 metres. He was very shy in the beginning, but after much nudging, he sang at last - the first two lines of the chorus of the song 童话 (by Michael Wong). We forced him to encore (so bad are we). After that, it was the usual birthday presentation by the TGIF people. It's quite fun watching them do it, and that time I was video recording it using my cell phone!

According to Kwok Weng, that was his first ever birthday celebration. I'm so glad that I gotta celebrate his birthday together with all of us bunch of new friends (with the exception of Boris). Yep, I only knew him for barely one month. Hope that we could celebrate with him in future. Ahh... perhaps next celebration with either Boris or Kevin (passed liao)... in TGIF again! Muahahahah!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KWOK WENG.

Kwok Weng forced to stand and sing, usual trick by TGIF on birthday babes


Kwok Weng with his birthday chocolate cake


The bball gang: [From left] David, Boris, Kwok Weng, Jorge, Derrick, Andre

Sub-Zero Reputation

Yes... From zero to sub-zero. I'm on one side of my mind impressed on the fed gomen's action, showing their nothing-to-lose desperation. On the other side, I feel disgusted at the extent of their action - foul and filthy. When I finish this post, I'm gonna puke.

UEKKKKKK!!! Oops... sorry! Can't hold on any longer. Hope August 26 pass with a smooth and gracious combat.

Why am I impressed and disgusted at the same time?

1. Usage of an un-investigated sodomy case as "hujah" for by-election campaign. Everyone knows that, in the name of Madam Justice the Blind, a person is innocent unless proven guilty. Some of our fed gomen leaders even voiced out this point (as if nobody knows). However, there are some jerks out there hailing "sodomy" during the by-election campaign. Sodomy - Is this word relevent? A country led by a sodomite - Is this not a statement of prejudice? Where is "innocent unless proven guilty"? Is it not childish? Extremely, I dare say.

By the way, in due respect to the departed ones, I do not agree with the yelling of the name "Altantuya" during the campaign neither. Let her rest in peace, guys. And, one note - two blacks do not make a white.

2. Having full-force concentration on Permatang Pauh. Cool... Imagine - all the big shots, including our "beloved" DPM and even our "beloved" PM, paid a visit to a constituency 400 km from their administrative base. So much time to help in the campaign... C'mon la... put more time on something more important... Wait, having a swift win in Permatang Pauh is of course important! Eesh... what am I talking? By the way, I am not at all surprised that KJ was there. I am also not at all surprised that our Olympic silver medalist Lee Chong Wei was invited there (although this part I do feel disgusted... yes, I do, and not I did, because I am still wanting to vomit... wait... UEKKK!!!).

3. The efficiency of ACA... in being so fast in investigation and charging of the two Perak Excos (PKR state assemblymen). I'm just wondering... why not only one, and why not three? Well, perhaps it is just coincident that they found two and exactly two PKR assemblymen involved in bribery, and have nothing to do with 31-28 becoming 29-30 (hopefully not). On the other hand, I am also curious... I remembered that there are also fed gomen people, including the big shots, being reported to ACA for having involved in pribery. What happened to the cases? Missing files? Where are the investigative efforts on them? Oh ya... some of the efforts went to Perak.

4. This part I really wanna puke. It has been said that there will be no fuel price slash till before Sept 1, and it was announced by our 'beloved' PM twice, on Aug 14 and Aug 20. SURPRISE!!! Fuel price slash on Aug 22. Although I am one of Malaysian citizens that is more than glad to have to pay less for my petrol, I am very disgusted at the action taken - a nothing-to-lose kind of action. Well, our 'beloved' PM has done it before what - never keeping integrity of his words. C'mon, why so desperate? Do you think you can really win people's votes just by doing this? People can expect you would continue to eat your own words in future.

Although I really wanna puke, I gotta say that I am kinda expecting it to happen anyway. As I said, it has happened before what... Now, I have all the reasons to not believing in fed gomen people anymore. How could we cast votes to people whom we cannot trust? So, save my puke for next time.

5. Bogus posters, offensive and containing reverse-psychology words, were put up around Permatang Pauh. Wallau... this is new! I am amazed - I don't expect those banner creators are that clever to do that. Reverse psychology needs extremely clever people in order to make the words effective. Anyway, I am very very glad that these banners has no party logos and name of the banner printer. As quoted in MalaysiaKini: "All the banners did not carry a party logo and the name of the printer. This breaches election laws and the Elections Commission can actually take action to have them removed." We shall expect to see EC people to remove it immediately.

There are many points, but five is enough. No point wasting time on childish matters and matters that concern people with sub-zero reputation.

UEKKKKKKKK!!!!!

Prayer For Permatang Pauh By-Election

O God, we acknowledge You today as Lord, not only of individuals but also of nations and governments.

We thank You for the graces You have given us to exercise our political charity in Malaysia.

We also thank You for the opportunity of free choice offered to the people of the constituency of Permatang Pauh for electing a leader.

Lord God, give them the courage to exercise their solemn duty as citizens of Malaysia to vote on behalf of the whole nation!

Guide those voters with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit so that they may choose a suitable and trustworthy candidate to become the next member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

September Twenty-Second

Yes, it is 30 days from now... Nope, I'm not predicting the future. I'm just trying to talk about how special this day is, and hence do a bit of self promotion. :-P

September 22 is indeed a special day. Special in many ways, as I'm gonna list down as follows:

10. It is the day of Autumn Equinox. A day where the length of daytime reduces most drastically (for countries north of the Equator). A day where the weather is supposed to change most drastically from warm to chill (again, for Northern Hemispheric countries). It is mid-autumn day... No, no, no, I'm not refering to Mooncake Festival that's based on Lunar calendar - I'm refering to the Gregorian calendar.
[ How about Southern Hemispheric countries? Vice versa lar... ]

9. September 22 means there is only 100 days left till the end of year.

8. It is the day mentioned in many movies. I really forgot which movies... I will update here if I remember.

7. It is the day of birth of the fictitious characters Frodo and Bilbo Bagginses in Lord of the Rings. Strange, even the land of Middle Earth used the Gregorian calendar! Haha...

6. It is the day of birth of the famous scientist Michael Faraday (year 1791).

5. It is the day of birth of a young artiste Tom Felton (year 1987), made famous as Louis Leonowens in Anna and the King and Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter movies.

4. It is the day of birth of the famous Brazilian football player Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima, or famously known as Ronaldo (year 1976).

3. It is the day of birth of my sifu who taught me something valuable couple of months back (year ???? - he kept it secret).

2. It is the day of birth of one of my coursemates (year 1977).

1. It is the day of birth of one of my colleagues (year 1985).

And most importantly (that's why I don't number it):
It is MY BIRTHDAY!! (proudly, born in year 1978) :-)

Paradise Worship - Part 2

Thursday was a fantastic day. It was the day that I witnessed for the first time the strong presence of God in a live worship concert by Paradise Worship! There were around 500 youths (perhaps more, I just threw in some numbers) in Shammah Hall, PCC. That was excluding some older people (perhaps the parents of the teenagers).

Although I have seen via DVD videos of live worship concert (that was Hillsong), I have never felt as much in awe as I was on that night. The atmosphere of praise and worship was strong, as almost everyone rushed to the open space between the stage and the seats, and began praising and blessing the Lord, jumping and hailing His name!

The worship team were exceptionally good in bringing up ourselves to praise and worship the Lord! Just like the 5-minute session. Of course... they are themselves worship pastors and leaders. They used a few songs from their latest album "Only By Grace", including "Across The World", "My God & King", "You Reign", and "Surrender". In fact, they also borrowed some other songs like "The Stand" and "Take It All".

Matt Heins, the Senior Executive Pastor, later came up to give a sharing followed by an altar-call. He shared that the God that we worship is the God of the breakthrough, based on Luke 11:2-9. The passage was about Jesus teaching the disciples how to pray (the short version of the Lord's Prayer), followed by a parable of persistent friend requesting for bread in the middle of the night. He pointed out that, when Jesus told the parable, He emphasized that, Jesus was bringing out a situation where it is natural, logical, and factual that the man in the house would not get up in the middle of the night to help his friend; but because his friend was boldly and shamelessly persisting his request, it was granted.

He pointed out that God would grant us what we ask for if we keep on knocking, and the criteria that we need to have are boldness and shameless. (Well, that's not because God is granting unwillingly, and that's not the case where we can ask for anything, even if it is wrong.) He also emphasized that the two aread that persistent prayers would break through, which is:

1. Natural, logical, and factual barriers - that when it seems that it is natural, logical, and factual that something would not happen, God WOULD make it happen if we pray persistently, bold and shameless.

2. The volatility and unpredictibility of life

After the altar-call, the worship session was wrapped up with the same songs as mentioned above. The whole session lasted for about 2 hours, and yet it was an amazing and fantastic experience that I had.


The stage of Shammah Hall PCC, fully equipped with musical instruments


Me, Gino, Kenneth, and Andre (Clockwise from top-left)


The congregation, before concert began


Worship leader and musicians on stage


Youths praising God


Group photo with Paradise Church Senior Executive Pastor, Matt Heins
[From left] Kenneth, Ben, Sharon, Matt, Andre, Geraldine, David, Aaron

P.S. I was told by Andre that the second day of workshop was great. I missed a whole lot of it I know, but what to do... cannot just walk out of the office just like that (unless I am not working for food... lol!)