The Sun article on Tenancy - Thoughts from the Past Part 5

I found this old article which I wrote in 2007. 

Click here to read the article : https://drive.google.com/?utm_medium=et&utm_source=about&utm_campaign=et-about#my-drive

The Football In Me

Let me start by quoting Gary Lineker after losing the 1990 World Cup semifinal to Germany on penalties: “Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.”

Sorry for the long hiatus. My excuses for not writing ranges from the GE13 to writer's block to post GE13 blues. Most importantly, I can honestly tell you is the deep disappointment in me. The sadness is so deep that no tears will come.  DAP won 100% of our seats and yet we failed to capture the state ? Hard to fathom. 

So I shall write about my love for football today. Interestingly, I got the inspiration to write on this topic due to a radio show which discussed the effect of football mania on the lives of couples. At the very outset, let me tell you that I am no ordinary girl next door who knows nothing about football. I have to credit my late father, Mr Tang Seng Huang for introducing me to football and as a result I got hooked. I remember both of us sitting with our eyes glued in front of the television discussing excitedly about a “Road to Wembley” game, much to my sisters and mother’s chagrin. We were guilty of  hogging the television. His favourite team was Tottentham Hotspurs (“Spurs”) and mine was Manchester City (“City”).

My favourite game of all time was the FA Cup Final Replay between Spurs and City in 1981.  It was the first to be staged at Wembley. Ricky Villa opened the scoring for Spurs in the 8th minute.  Steve MacKenzie equalised for City in the 11^th minute.  Kevin Reeves scored a penalty in the 50^th minute to give City the lead. Garth Crooks then equalised in the 70th minute. In the 76^th minute, Tony Galvin passed the ball to Villa 30 yards from City's goal, and the Argentinian dribbled past four defenders before scoring the winning goal. This goal was voted Wembley Goal of the Century in 2001, and it won Spurs the match, 3–2, and the FA Cup for the 6th time. My dad recorded the game on Betamax tape (before VHS or VCD). I watched the match over and over again until the tape was spoiled. 

My husband loves football too but his favourite team is Ipswich. Ipswich ? Is the team still in Championship League ?  I must salute him for his unwavered support eventhough his team is not in the top league like City, Spurs and Manchester United ("Red Devils"). Have I told you that I have switched my allegiance to the Red Devils since the 90's ? Guilty as charged ! 

Let me end by quoting Bill Shankly, Liverpool manager on football: “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I’m very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

  

Ardiles

Spurs

Villa celebrating !

Ticket

Nicole's Nook - Thoughts from the Past Part 4

ce the state of Johor was devastated by floods in December, 2006, whereby 60,000 people were displaced. A second wave of floods in January, 2007 caused some 70,000 to be evacuated. It was back in 26th of December, 2004 that a tsunami killed approximately 300,000 people. Another new wave would be none other than the new NS Bar Committee members led by Mr. Tee Kim Chan. They were elected in March, 2007. That was the first election held after the amendment of Section 46A of the Legal Profession Act, 1960.

Mr. Tee stressed the importance of fraternity in the NS Bar during his inaugural speech as the NS Bar Chairman. Our new chairman’s emphasis on fraternity is quite noble and meant to foster a better relationship among NS Bar members. He is also very concerned about the standard of practice especially on the fundamental understanding of the law. Maybe it is time for a proper legal academy to be set up to ensure that lawyers who are called to the Bar are of impeccable character and training. This legal academy should replace CLP (which is mere rote-learning) and should be applied across the board, i.e. even to local graduates. Our very own inns of court coupled with our own tradition of dining. Imagine our local fare of rendang; nasi lemak; roti canai; hainanese chicken rice etc.

I must raise a point about the senior-junior syndrome that is plaguing our practice albeit on a lesser scale in NS. All I can say is that it takes two hands to clap. In order to have camaraderie or chumminess, the junior lawyers should take the first step to introduce themselves to the seniors and not wait for the seniors to do so. I was guilty of that in my early days as some senior lawyers mistook my lack of initiative and shyness (more like thin-skinned) to be aloofness. I can't sell insurance or involve in direct marketing as I take rejection rather personally. However, there are a handful of senior lawyers who understood my then predicament or just that they were and still are plain right down-to-earth. These senior lawyers treated me like friends since day one and I can never forget that.

No article is complete without a discussion on politics. I have always wanted to marry a prince (not!). Therefore, it is only befitting for me to laud the erstwhile most eligible prince in our country, Raja Nazrin. He finally left his bachelorhood and broke many Malaysian ladies’ hearts in the process. I must add that Raja Nazrin is not a “calang-calang” prince. He is a prince with vision and heart. Even before our PM asked for a improvement of the government’s delivery system, he was dishing out advice on how the delivery system can affect the nation as a whole and requested the government to improve on the delivery system to achieve transparency and efficiency. That was also before Khairy wrote about the “little Napoleans”.

I have always believed that a leader is not born but made. History has shown that kings had to fight for their territories before they were being installed. They were not born as kings. They had to fight to win that right. It is not a birth right but a brawn right. In these modern times, brains and not brawn is the order of the day. Every now and then our UMNO youth leaders would wave a “keris” or threatened the non-Malays not to question their birth right. The whole problem lies in the fact that our political systems are racial-based. How to solve this recurring problem? Easy, ask Raja Nazrin to form a non-racial based political party. He has the right qualification and clout to carry out this onerous task of saving our country before it goes to the dogs. We can smell the dogs already. Raja Nazrin, please come to our rescue.

Related to delivery system is the State Legal Adviser’s department. As far as I know, the State Legal Adviser's department is under-staffed. How can one person be going for exco meetings; providing legal advice to all the state bodies; run the office; go to the courts etc, all at the same time. It is very difficult to make an appointment to see the State Legal Adviser. Further, we cannot expect one person to be knowledgeable in all aspects of law. Gone were the days when the State Legal Adviser can go to courts personally as their responsibilities are much more now. More people, more business, more problems, more lawyers etc. I suggest that the Assistant State Legal Advisers be appointed to head different areas of laws for eg, conveyancing and litigation. Only then will our problems of delivery system be solved. Most of the time, when a land office or PTG or any government department or body is stuck with a question of law they direct it to the State Legal Adviser.

What is wrong with us? Why can’t we call Malaysia an Islamic state. They can call it any name so long as our rights are not trampled. I would foresee a bigger problem if fanatics and extremists run our country and yet call it a secular state. I have a real problem with those people who do not practise what they preach. These same politicians also reminded us to relax and that the keris-waving incident was merely another “sandiwara” stunt to fish for votes. Merely lip service. No action talk only. They want us to believe that they needed to do this in order to get all the votes. However, the question is how long can they sustain such childish act and mindless stunt? They think we are morons or what? We are definitely moronic if we allow this to persist. I agree that Malaysia is an unusual and complex country. It is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, we should capitalise on this and make it our selling point. If only we can focus on substance rather than bigotry. If only we can agree to disagree. If only we can avoid pointing fingers at others. Meritocracy must be the order of the day. What I found disturbing is that after every fierce polemics and rhetoric, there is always a unity and peace speech. We do not have short memories and we cannot be subjected to such systematic harassment and debasement followed by damage control and not feel hurt and humiliated. The damage has been done, no amount of coaxing and cajoling can fix them. Why can't we focus on unity and progress for our own sake?

Who does not keep track with the latest on Altantuya’s case? I mean, it is something like a Bollywood movie complete with private investigators, love affairs; C4 bombs; Unit Tindakan Khas with a licence to kill. For those who read Malaysia Today, they would be drawn into Raja Petra’s world of intrigue. I must give Raja Petra credit for being able to mix fiction with facts so well until all of us are utterly confused. Not unlike Dan Brown, I must say.

Remember how the Kinabatangan MP, Bung Mokhtar and Jasin “close one eye” MP, Mohd Said coupled by Mohamed Nazri “bodoh bodoh bodoh” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department verbally attacked and demeaned DAP’s MP, Fong Po Kuan? Such emotive utterances by elected members of the Parliament are unbecoming and should not be condoned but yet it is a reality in Malaysia. They get away with this in Malaysia as there is no political will to stop them. There is no political will to ensure that there is integrity in Parliament. Their behaviour speaks volumes of how they regard the womenfolk; how they regard their own wives; daughters or mothers. The voice of apathy will always tell us to ignore their moronic behaviour. However, we must not ALLOW these things to happen in Parliament. We have to get rid of such people from Parliament. If we choose to ignore them, it will embolden them further.

In 2006, Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution was amended to prohibit discrimination against anyone on the grounds of gender. Malaysia had acceded to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1995. A message to the powers that be: Please walk the talk ! What is the point of amending the Constitution and allow such discrimination, especially committed by a wakil rakyat? What is the point of acceding the CEDAW? The Kinabatangan MP and his cohorts must be given their come uppance lest we make a mockery of the law and ourselves. What is the party whip doing? The last time an MP took a different stand, the MP (from Negeri Sembilan) was suspended. The Kinabatangan MP committed a much more serious offence. He should be dropped from the next general election. The rakyat must not vote for such a crass person. The MPs involved (the perpetrator and those who supported him) must be made responsible for their shameful behaviour by the party. The party cannot condone such sexist behaviour especially so when our country has already ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This is not a good precedent to set. Humankind, regardless of creed should unite and protest against all sexist behaviour.

With the current fiasco of our Chief Justice failing to get the Council of Rulers’ approval for the appointment of the Chief Judge of Malaya, I propose that a Commission for a Judicial Appointments be set up to study the flaws and complaints pertaining to the current procedure and to set out a better transparent procedure whereby judges are appointed by merits, together with a check and balance machinery. Thereafter, a Judicial Appointments Commission shall be set up based on the Commission's findings and report. Finally, some form of check and balance on the executive; judiciary and legislature. It would be better if the Rulers can order for a proper system for appointment of judges.

So much of hullabaloo on poor Namawee and his Negaraku. I watched the video too. The first time was without the English subtitles. The second one with the English subtitles. You see, my Mandarin is that bad. I was only enlightened after the second time but I still do not know whether it was properly translated. Anyway, I feel that his video is not as bad as Eminem’s; Madonna’s; 50 cent’s; etc. Freedom of expression should prevail in this case. Anyway, it was wrong of the reporter to state "He was reported to have touched on racially-sensitive issues by sarcastically singing the morning call to prayer for Muslims". There's nothing racial about that. Muslims can be Chinese; Indian; Malay or any other race. Ethnicity has got nothing to do with religion or vice versa. This kind of equation is very dangerous.

I am indeed honoured to be given the privilege to share my thoughts with my fellow NS Bar members. I am also very proud to be part of the Editorial team comprising of such eminent and affable members of the Bar. On that note, I wish you Happy practising !

Nicole
27-8-2007

Note : For those who are interested in constitutional landmarks of our country, please be informed that there is a hardcover book titled “Constitutional Landmarks in Malaysia – The First 50 Years – 1957-2007”, edited by Andrew Harding and HP Lee, published by LexisNexis. Do get a copy (sold at RM89.00 per copy) from Mr VV of the NS Bar Room.

Emperor's New Clothes

Emperor’s New Clothes

I would like to comment about the “A Date with the Prime Minister” dinner (“the banquet”) organized by a group of Chinese NGOs and societies on 16th of March, 2013 (eve of both St Patrick’s Day and yours truly’s birthday !) in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

I am reminded about the tale of the Emperor’s New Clothes. For the uninitiated, it is a short tale by Hans Christian Andersen about two conmen disguised as weavers who promised an Emperor a new clothing that is invisible to those unfit for their positions. The vain Emperor who loved to parade in the latest fashion hired the two men who promised him the finest and best avant garde clothing made of a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or "hopelessly stupid or incompetent". 

 

The Emperor's stooges/ministers could not see the clothing themselves, but pretended that they could for fear of appearing unfit for their positions and the Emperor did the same. Finally, the conmen reported that the clothing was ready, they mimed dressing him and the Emperor marched in procession before his Rakyat. The townsfolk played along with the charade not wanting to appear unfit for their positions. Then a child in the crowd, too naïve to understand the need to keep up the charade, blurted out that the Emperor was wearing nothing at all and the cry was taken up by others. The Emperor cringed, suspecting the assertion was true, but continued with the procession.

The phrase "emperor's new clothes" has since become an idiom about logical fallacies. The tale is an example of what happens because of pluralistic ignorance. The tale is about a situation where "no one believes, but everyone believes that everyone else believes”.

This tale aptly describes the current situation in Seremban. It is so obvious who the emperor is, especially of what transpired recently in Penang’s PSY concert. The emperor’s new clothes in Seremban was supposed to be the attendance of the 30,000 people for a free dinner. The sole purpose of the banquet is sycophantic in nature i.e to show support for the emperor. 

 

The banquet was supposed to be the biggest ever held in Malaysia and Malaysia’s Book of Records is invited to witness and record the event. The banquet was supposed to be funded by a few top Chinese businessmen. DAP has asked the question “who funded the event?”. As total estimated costs is more than RM 1 Million ! 

 

The banquet was supposed to be non-political but looking at the lineup of the people involved in the organising committee, everyone of them is connected to a political party ("the Party") one way or another. Even when the top leadership of the Party denied any involvement in the organising of the banquet, a top leader was seen supervising and walking around in the venue of the banquet. The way the top leader vehemently defended the organising committee, clearly shows that he is trying to camouflage the situation. These community leaders linked to have ulterior motive. It could be a form of payback time for their receipt of patronage or for future benefits.

The banquet is used for political purpose. The banquet serves as the Emperor's New Clothes. Perceived new clothes when he is actually naked. The support is forced because the Party's leaders infiltrated Chinese societies. Used these societies' or NGOs' identities to deceitfully hold POLITICAL CAMPAIGN/ BANQUET to please Najib. They are too shameful to use the Party to organise the event because they are fearful of failure and poor attendance. They used subtle pressure on neutral bodies to gain attendance involuntarily, which they will shamelessly claim as Chinese leaders' and Chinese Associations' support. Chinese community leaders fear that their non-attendance could cause them loss of government allocations/patronage. Even the table allocations showed that it is actually organised by the Party as the tickets are distributed by the Party's leaders. Those in the wrong camp did not get any tickets. I understand that the blue-eyed boy got the best seats which are the top 500 tables nearest to the stage.

The banquet is another bread and circuses event to create a feel good factor. I wish to reflect on many Chinese Serembanites who are commenting to me and wants me to say this. Their fear is the emperor’s insincerity and they fear that he will play dirty because of his track record. They have been haunted by 1987 famous keris-waving. Only recently, he showed the controversial movie “Tanda Putera” to 3,000 FELDA settlers with bad intentions.

I urge the chinese community to spread the message about such shameless and deceitful move by attending the dinner since it is free and vote otherwise ! I urge those people who are impoverished by bad government policies which benefitted the ruling party’s stooges for the past 30 years to go and attend the banquet and “tapau” (pack) the food as that is their right. I urge Serembanites to show the same political wisdom as Penang by attending under protest ! I urge Serembanites to show that our dignity cannot be bought. This is a golden opportunity for us to openly show our disgust and displeasures about the ruling party’s bad policies which benefitted a small group of cronies and not Malaysians as a whole !

 

 

Selamat Hari Wanita !

Pemberian Penghargaan Bunga sempena Hari Wanita Sedunia - 9 Mac, 2013

Wanita seluruh dunia menyambut Hari Wanita Sedunia pada 8hb Mac, 2013. Pakatan Rakyat telah menganjurkan beberapa aktiviti pengedaran bunga. Pagi ini kami telah mengadakan aktiviti di Pasar Ampangan dan kawasan persekitarannya, iaitu kedai-kedai berhampiran dan kedai-kedai (termasuk Pasaraya Giant) dalam Plaza Ampangan. Kami mendapat sambutan yang teramat hangat ! Tidak ada seorang pun yang tidak sudi menerima bunga walaupun kami mengatakan bunga tersebut adalah sumbangan Pakatan Rakyat, iaitu parti pembangkang di Negeri Sembilan. Fenomena seperti ini tidak pernah berlaku sebelum 2008.

Aktiviti ini boleh mengeratkan hubungan silaturahim di antara parti-parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat. Kami membuat kerja persediaan di atas kereta seorang saudara PKR dan kami dapat membuat kerja tersebut secara gotong royong. Ternampak jelas bahawa kalau kami bersepakat, kami memang boleh berjaya menawan Negeri Sembilan !

Gambar-gambar :-

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151347835106365.1073741828.536196364&type=1&l=3b6a99fa4b

Ceramah in LBJ, Labu - 7th March, 2013

Ceramah LBJ - 7th March, 2013


This evening I was a replacement ("bidan terjun") again for YB Cha Kee Chin. I seem to be his regular "bidan terjun" and I am not complaining. I hope to get more stints like this in future for more exposure, really. The host was DUN Labu's Bilik Gerakan committee headed by Tuan Haji Annuar, PAS' potential candidate for DUN Labu. They built a fantastic stage which was elevated overlooking a huge football field. The feeling was quite surreal, standing up there looking at the audience. I broke into an Anuar Zain song "Ajari Aku". This song is always played ("berkumandang") on ERA FM and it is such a lovely song ! I changed the original lyrics to "Hanya engkau yang tahu, hanya engkau boleh, Membuat Perubahan !". I started on a much higher note and sounded very shrilly in the process.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LF06bfpu-go" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Part of my speech

Ng Yen Yen's YES, YES, YES - the fine line between genius and insanity !!!

Ng Yen Yen's YES, YES, YES - the fine line between genius and insanity !!!

Ng Yen Yen had a Yes-No battle with the Melaka folks on Sunday evening (24th Feb, 2013).

(http://www.malaysiakini.tv/video/25003/yen-yen-caught-in-yes-no-battle-in-malacca.html)

This is another example of what I wrote in my earlier article on “Whom the God would destroy, they first make mad” (Euripides).

(http://nicoletanleekoonsocialpolitico.blogspot.com/2013/02/bn-going-psycho-before-its-impending.html)


How else to explain the Right Honourable Minister of Tourism's recent faux pas ? Look at her. She is a medical doctor. She must possess some grey matter between her ears to be able to climb the political ladder of having achieved the status of a full fledged Minister in the cabinet. She chose to engage in a Yes-No battle with the Melaka folks despite having witnessed her boss, Najib's recent fiasco with the Penang folks. The Penang Gerakan youth chief, Oh Tong Keong stated in his press conference that a senior female Minister caused the “Yee Sang” fiasco. According to Oh, “a minister” had instructed the emcee “ad hoc” to invite Psy to toss “Yee Sang”, without informing Psy’s manager ahead of time.

That resulted in shame (in Samy Vellu’s words, “kemaluan kepada saya”) and indignity (in Ghaffar Baba”s words, “we are not in the well”) to the nation when the Prime Minister, former Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers were publicly embarrassed, waiting forlornly for five minutes in vain for Psy to join them.

It does  not end here. The initial version of the “Yee Sang” fiasco was dismissed by by the Penang Barisan Nasional chief, Teng Chang Yeow who came out with a Bollywood-like plot to kill Psy. Hence, Psy could not join the VVIPs for the “Yee Sang” tossing but Teng failed to explain why Psy continued to perform three songs at close proximity with the audience after the “Yee Sang” tossing and why  PSY had a meal without police supervision just before he flew off despite the fact that his life was threatened.

Why did Ng Yen Yen persist in trying to get the Melaka folks to agree with her after the Penang bitter lesson ? You may call it an exercise in power of persuasion but I can safely call it a display of utter contempt of the freedom of choice; a display of utter arrogance bordering on madness; and most importantly, the writing is on the wall. The Rakyat's patience has been drained. Her latest demeanour was the straw that broke the camel's back. I am sure everyone was shocked at the Melaka folks' reaction, especially Yen Yen and the emcee as they both looked non-plussed and flustered.

On the same count, BN (earlier, called Perikatan) started off with a noble cause i.e Perikatan (formed in 1951 but formerly registered in 1957, consisting of UMNO, MCA and MIC was credited for fighting for independence from the British in 1957 and also the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

However, BN's latest series of comedy of errors starting from (i) Lori Gostan's "Gong Xi Fai Cai" greetings (http://pics.lockerz.com/s/281898863) (to the uninitiated, it should have been "Fa Cai" and not "Fai Cai". The former means "amass wealth" whilst the latter means "useless bum"); to (ii) Najib's CNY advertisement that went awry. His name, Najib (纳吉) was written wrongly to connote bad luck. The word "吉" consist of two words "士" and "口", not "土", "口"; to (iii) Najib's embarrassing stint in Penang with Psy i.e for being the only Prime Minister in the world to open an act for an entertainer as opposed to, for eg, recently Psy was the opening act for the new President of Korea, Park Geun Hye; (iv) Najib's "Are you ready for BN?" was answered with a resounding "NO!!!" by the Penang folks; (v) our mainstream media giving different accounts of the PSY event from the alternative media and foreign media. All these seems to suggest that the fine line between genius and insanity has been erased !  Time is ripe now for us to make a change for the better. Are we ready for PR ? Yesssss !!! Yessssss!!!! Yessssss!!!!