The (Half) Idiot’s Guide to Bersih 2.0

1. What is Bersih?

Bersih is ‘tak kotor‘, which means clean in Malay. I thought we all naturally support anything that is clean? You suka kotor?

On November 10, 2007, Malaysians from all walks of life whose had NBTD took a boring walk (well, not so for those who had to dodge tear gasses &  chemical water cannons at some points, no offence) while looking silly in yellow shirt, yellow headband, yellow handbags, yellow pants, yellow skin or any hint of yellow colour on them from several locations towards Istana Negara to send a memorandum to the King demanding electoral reform. The demands were:

1. Usage of indelible ink (which has already been agreed to by the Electoral Commission, which then canceled it off at the last hour before 2008 General Election)

2. Clean-up of registered voters roll (what took them so long so hard to do it, really?)

3. Abolition of  postal votes, and (not done)

4. All candidates and political parties have equal access to print and broadcast media. (not done)

Close to 20 people were arrested and no policemen were injured during the rally. Some went back with wet t-shirt and teary-looking eyes, thanks to some trigger happy dudes who swore to protect and serve the citizens.

2. What is Bersih 2.o?

Bersih 2.0 is a repeat of  the first rally, as a follow up (it is good to follow up don’t you think?), scheduled July 9th, 2011  to again demand for electoral reform, since the Election Commisson (EC) slept through the demands for the past three and a half years. Well, you have to try again right? Why we need another rally? Why can’t we sit down and discuss? Well, we have done discussing and it is time to make a point. The EC has been postponing discussions, giving excuses and more lame excuses all this while and suddenly now come Bersih 2.0 they want to discuss again? (while giving ultimatum to Bersih to call off the rally. Seriously? You care about the rally or the demands for electoral reform?)

3. Is Bersih 2.0 a political ploy to topple the government, CIA’s agent, trying to revive communism, a tool by Muslim haters and <create-your-own-cock-and-bull-theories here..>?

Look at the 8 demands  by Bersih 2.0 :

1. Clean up the electoral roll. Again. (what fucking took the EC so long to do it? Bunch of incompetent goons.)

2. Reform postal voting. Again. (still not done and the EC actually makes it harder now for postal votes counting process to be impartial with some stupid new rules, I cannot remember it so you google it up)

3. Use of indelible ink. Again. (nothing done over this promise by EC and now they are suggesting for the use of biometric system. You cannot even implement this cheap indelible ink idea you want to use biometric system? Are you dumb?)

4. Introduce a minimum 21-day campaign period. (this is a new demand, because the EC is blardy inconsistent with the given campaign period. 21 day is just right, not too long, not too short and should be enough time for all parties to prepare for D-day. 1st election this country had, campaign period was 42 days. Now? 2 weeks. Some voters don’t even know who are the candidates in some elections.)

5. Allow all parties free and equal access the media. Again. (well, you need a fair, equal footing or fighting ground for a fair fight and to win the fight respectably.)

6. Strengthen public institution. (I am not quite sure how asking EC to fulfill this demand)

7. Stop corruption. (during the election time, some parties often resorted to pork-barrel corruption, going blatantly without regards to the laws)

8. Stop dirty politics. (Well, yeah. It’s only dirty when you want it to be dirty. We should aim for election where candidates talk about policies they offer to voters. Not about sex. Slander.)

Any of the demands above is political? Bias to any political party? And if any of the demands above is achieved, does it has anything to do with communism, religion, foreign espionage bla bla bla? Opposition parties are seen openly supporting Bersih 2.0 because they always have been at disadvantage in any election and they just want an equal chances to win the people’s votes. Isn’t that a fair request? All political parties should demand for this, an equal chance. Unless you’re a quack.

And just because many opposition parties are supporting Bersih 2.o it is an opposition agenda?  How you know for sure by having a reformed electoral system, the opposition will win for sure if there is any election? If they put donkey candidate, they may not win the election. Is it because of donkey, monkey, frog also can win in any election now that we need an electoral reform.

4. I still think the best way is to vote wisely during the election.

How you are going to make sure your vote is worth what it is if the system is not fair? Your vote can be canceled out anytime by deceased voters ‘coming back’ to vote, sudden influx of postal votes because the system is not clean enough. Why Malaysians overseas are having a tough time trying to fulfill their responsibility because the EC is not taking enough steps to help or let them vote? Why allow postal votes for some groups and not others when they are all cannot be present physically at their constituency during polling day? Fair?

5. I cannot join Bersih 2.0 rally because…

Afraid? The government wants you to be afraid. That is why the intimidation and over the top reactions by the government to stop anything about Bersih 2.0. Well, you can be isolated, be ignored, be attacked, be in doubt, be frightened but DO NOT be silenced. Our life begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. There is strength in numbers, for that we shall fear and be silenced. The weak can become strong when they are united.

If you cannot be physically there, you can choose to show your support in many ways. Like looking stupid wearing yellow on that day.

If you don’t support Bersih 2.0 rally, well it’s your choice. This is a democratic country. As long as your conscience permits.

Any more questions on Bersih 2.0? I am lazy to ask question on my own and then answer them. Why don’t you write any question, comment, curse, profanity  in the comment box and this self appointed Bersih 2.0 know-it-all shall respond. *smug*

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Rest in peace, Pa.

This post is in memory of my late father who passed away on 14th April 2011. It has been 2 weeks now.

I did not get to see my father often, growing up. He was always away for work or went ‘missing’ and I kinda used to not having him around. I especially remember those times when some strangers came to our house looking for him and he would be ‘missing’ for a period of time, yet again. Or when we thought he was leaving to his workplace and suddenly few hours after he left or the very next day (depending on the distance of the location he supposed to go) there would be calls looking for him asking why he has not arrived at his workplace and followed by some ’stories’ about him, yet again.

Life back then was tough for our family. I have the utmost respect for my mother for shouldering on everything, taking care of the family in what ever possible ways she could. At one point, I gave up and decided not to give a damn about my old man when he yet pulled another trick of him on us. I think it  happened just last year. I was very disappointed and angry, rightly so. We siblings are all grown ups now, tired of having the broken record keep playing itself and so I called for a stop, because enough is enough.

Although, ironically funny when I really think about it how at one time I was living the life I despise so much for the reason it was the life that he lives all this while. Trying not to be the person you hate and end up close to be one, you have to love the irony. Life is a bitch like that. Well, I have to thank whatever magic forces out there for spanking me back to the right path, if there’s any.

For the past 1-2 years my father has been staying at home, playing ‘housemaker’, whipping up dishes – one thing he was exceptionally good at, looking after the place while my mother and my younger brother working. And I was a busy wandering nomad and would be back home once or twice in a month, whenever I could make time for it. He would always call me when he knew I would be back for the weekend asking when I would arrive and telling me what dishes awaiting me. I especially love the five-spice meat rolls he made.

Just when I thought this year is going to be the best year for us, well.. apparently not. I couldn’t wait for Chinese New Year last February and I made many arrangements so we could celebrate this year with a bang. I even bought some firecrackers, (I always scold my younger brother for stupidly ‘burning money’), got a new ride, gave my mom early big ang-pow so we could spend a little bit more this year and hopefully it would be great and wonderful new year. Turned out the damn saying that money is not everything is kinda true after all.

It was 2 weeks before Chinese New Year. He was carrying groceries and stuffs he bought for CNY and suddenly he fainted at the front door. The neighbours, my mother and younger brother called an ambulance and rushed him to the hospital. I was working in Bintulu and I went back the next day when I heard the news. I visited him at the hospital, talked to the doctors and they couldn’t be sure what caused him to faint. He was discharged 3 days after that and I went back to work.

2 days before the big dinner for CNY, I received a call from my mother saying that my father fainted again. I was supposed to go back on the next day, so I drove back immediately after I got the news. I went to the general hospital in Sarikei again, checked with the doctors and they couldn’t give any convincing answers so we requested for him to be transferred to Sibu hospital where they have better equipments and facilities to find out what happened to my father. I took the ride in the ambulance to Sibu, accompanied him for the MRI scan and the doctor told me they found 2 lumps in my father’s brain, suspected tumors. My father also complained about the pain at his back and he couldn’t sit or stand and walk due to the pain, which they then found to be his bones have slipped off and cracked. Further check-ups, testings were carried out to confirm the prognosis, my father was admitted to the hospital for a week and I would fetch my mother up and down Sibu – Sarikei during the Chinese New Year period. Doctors suspected my father of having cancer but couldn’t pin point the source, which they needed more testings and time.

I went back to work on the 7th day of CNY after visiting him at the ward. He was discharged on the 9th day of CNY after his back pain subsided, they gave him some medications and went home while waiting for the results to come out. A week later he went to the hospital together with my mother and younger brother to collect the result and he fainted again while chatting with the nurses. This time they got his blood test results ready and after further testings and check ups, it was confirmed he was a Stage 4 liver cancer patient.

I was talking to the doctor on the phone, exploring available options, what were the chances and after considering everything we decided to bring him home to recuperate and we would try to spend more time with him. I was told by the doctor that because it was a Stage 4 liver cancer, he would probably have only another 6-7 months more to live. Starting then I would be sure to make time to go back home every weekends to see him.

A week before he left for a better place, I went home. My mother was telling me he was asking about me the day before and has been grumbling about his messy, uncut hair. He couldn’t walk without assistance at this time, so my mother told him that I would come back at the end of the week and be his barber. Yes, I was a very sought after barber when I was in school and uni, no joke.

After his discharge from the hospital he had not fainted again, until a day before I went back to cut his hair. When I reached home, he was in the room and my mother told me, he fainted in the morning the day before and became very weak ever since. He also seems to be unable to control his toilet business anymore. My younger brother and I went to buy some adult diapers for him. I cut his hair and helped him to shave, then carried him to the bathroom. He was very frail and weak. It was Saturday.

I went back to work on Sunday after telling them I would come back on next Friday to vote. I received a call from my mother on Thursday morning, around 7.50am. My father had been unconscious since 3am in the morning and they have admitted him to hospital and currently in coma. She said she would called me again if there’s any progress and I went to take my shower. 5 minutes after that, when I was still in the shower my phone rang again, it was my mother again. “Your father has left us”, she said.

We have made all the necessary arrangements that followed after. I hope I have done  my best as the eldest son in the family.

I would like to thank everyone for their helps, supports and kind wishes during this period. I am forever indebted and deeply grateful for every assistance given. Thank you, again.

Lastly,

Rest in peace, Pa.

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First blog post in 2011??

When was the last time I put up a blog post? Let’s see… on September 2nd, 2010, roughly about 4 months back! Damn, I have really neglected this blog, I wonder if anyone still come and visit… Are you? Make some noise!

2010 was a busy year for me. A damn good year too! Early of the year I changed my job, moved from Miri to Kuching, made new friends, yorais-ed, running up and down Kuching-Bintulu-Miri, went to KL for some cool tweetups, shaved my head, relocated to Bintulu, changed my status, grew back my hair, gained some weight, paid off some debts and bam!! 2011 is here.

One reason why I didn’t write many blog posts last year (other than being a dedicated modern slave) was because I was damn sick and tired (still is) with all the things happening around me. Yes, I am talking about the political circus that is still going on and on and on and on.

I feel like it is a waste of time to write things the way I used to – painfully constructing points, ’seriously’ trying to knock some senses into some blissfully ignorant chimps, whacking nincompoops for not doing their jobs – and for what? It is a very tiring affair, like most affairs usually are.. (oops!) so I decided to take a little break from blogging and just writing short posts on Twitter. Its 140 characters limitation is a blessing for a lazy bump like me.

Hmm, actually the whole point is.. I was lazy lah…

Now that I am in a midst of a writing project, I need my mojo back! So I will start writing again and I am sorry if you expect good shit from me anytime soon (I don’t think anyone really care LOL), but you don’t go look for good shit here. Hee…..

p/s: What a shitty post this is…

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Villagers protest against Beluru-Lapok road upgrading works proposal

Long Lapok, September 01 2010 -Villagers affected by the proposed road upgrading works between Beluru-Lapok held a protest outside a local coffee shop, Kedai Kopi Nyamai this afternoon. Armed with placards condemning the state government, some 80 villagers also chanted slogans during the 30-minute protest.

The protest is held as a response to the announcement made in last month by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who flew  in a Black Hawk helicopter to Long Banga and declared “I will ensure that the RM100 million Beluru-Lapok Road is implemented.”

Long Banga is situated very close to the Sarawak-Indonesia border. It requires an eight to 10-hour drive from Miri, or one hour by helicopter.

The untarred Lapok Road, off the highway, is full of huge potholes; some so big they can swallow up a small car, which is a pride among the locals here. During the rainy season, the entire Lapok Road turns into a slush of mud, sand and loose stones. A spokesperson from Tourism Ministry who refused to give his identity revealed that the Tourism Ministry will make this into a niche tourism attraction for the gullible tourists.

Led by the Lapok Aggravated and Mistreated People’s Association (LAMPA) chairman Lipahim Tali, the protesters voiced their disapproval against the state government’s decision to upgrade the Lapok road.

Lipahim claimed that the road have important historical and cultural value, having existed for 40 years and should be preserved as native heritage in the state. The villagers are very happy with the current condition of the road.

“Historically, we are long staying residents here since the James Brooke era. We have the right to keep the road in its current state. We do not want it to be upgraded,” he said.

Some 16,000 villagers from the settlements and villages along the stretch from the Miri-Bintulu highway to Lapok Bazaar are affected by the proposed road upgrading works.

Cargo-transporter Tee Tok Kok regularly sends supplies to shops in Lapok Bazaar.

His five-tonne lorry had been damaged many times. Punctured tyres, twisted axles and rims are just some of the resulting troubles he had to put up with travelling along the road. But this is something Tee looks forward to as he aspires to be in Malaysian Book of Records for the vehicle owner with most frequently break down vehicle - for category lorry below five tonne.

“During the rainy season, it is very risky travelling along this road, and that is the best time to travel for me. There have been times when I get stuck in the mud and cannot get out, and I truly enjoyed the experience. I am confident I will make it into Malaysian Book of  Records soon,” he said.

“I hope the government will let us endure this for as long as it takes. Why is it that the Government leaders keep saying year after year that funds to repair Lapok Road has already been approved? We don’t need that. The government can use that fund for more important and better things like new State Legislative Assembly building or sending another space tourist.

Tee happily shared a video from his personal collection to all the readers.

SOURCE : MY TRUSTED BIRD-BIRD

Thursday March 25, 2010

Major bumpy ride along Lapok Road

Story and photo by STEPHEN THEN

stephenthen@thestar.com.my

LAPOK Bazaar is 120km from Miri city but the distance is not the problem. It is what you encounter along the Miri-Bintulu highway that makes the trip one you will not soon forget.

The untarred Lapok Road, off the highway, is full of huge potholes; some so big they can swallow up a small car.

During the rainy season, the entire Lapok Road turns into a slush of mud, sand and loose stones. Driving on then becomes not only a rough experience, it becomes dangerous.

Muddy: All sorts of vehicles can get stuck along this Miri-Lapok road that had remained in horrendous condition for the past 40 years.

The condition of the road is so bad that accidents and vehicle breakdowns are a daily event.

There are some 16,000 people living in settlements and villages along the stretch from the Miri-Bintulu highway to Lapok Bazaar.

They have to travel on this horrendous road every day to get to Miri to work, shop and school.

The Lapok Road was built 40 years ago and its condition has gone from bad to worse.

Cargo-transporter Teo Boon Seng regularly sends supplies to shops in Lapok Bazaar.

His five-tonne lorry had been damaged many times. Punctured tyres, twisted axles and rims are just some of the resulting troubles he had to put up with travelling along the road.

“During the rainy season, it is very risky travelling along this road, but I have no choice. Whenever the shops in Lapok run out of supplies, my boss in Miri will assign me to deliver these goods.

“There have been times when I get stuck in the mud and cannot get out. I have to call for help from tow-trucks,” he said.

“How much longer are we going to have to endure this? Why is it that the Government leaders keep saying year after year that funds to repair Lapok Road has already been approved?

“Where are the funds? If the funds had been channeled, why hasn’t repair work started?” Teo questioned.

Baram MP Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan recently said a RM150mil budget for the repair and upgrading of the road had been approved by the Treasury Department.

He said the authorities were now in the process of hiring a contractor to repair the road.

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