The President Gets Laughs at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

The Dark Knight- Joker Interrogation Scene Spoof

Apologies

Dear readers (or at least the few loyal ones anyway),

Due to my involvement with theatre, I will not be able to post regularly. I will try my best to give some updates or my thoughts on some issues. But for the next two months, I would be virtually absent.

Till then.

Chiao!

Good Friday

Tomorrow, Christians will be celebrating or should I say commemorating Good Friday, the day the Lord Jesus Christ was crucifed on the Cross of Calvary. I say commemorate and not celebrate because it is a nostalgic day to remember the sufferings of the Messiah.

Today was the day when He was captured by the Temple guards. Today was the day when the Son of Man was betrayed with a kiss by Judas Iscariot, his disciple. Today was the day the Lord was falsely accused in the council of the Sanhedrin.

I will post more about Good Friday tomorrow.

Till then.

God Bless.

VICTORY!!!

The results are in and Pakatan Rakyat has emerged as the winner in two of the three by-elections. Both the Bukit Selambau (Kedah) and Bukit Gantang (Perak) is now under the Pakatan Rakyat Government. Batang Ai (Sarawak) of course was taken by Barisan Nasional.

Here are the results taken from Malaysiakini:

9.20pm Bukit Gantang OFFICIAL RESULTS
Mohd Jamaluddin Nizar (PAS) 21,860Ismail Saffian (BN-Umno) 19,071Kamarul Ramizu Idris (Ind) 62
Majority - 2,789 (In 2008, the majority was 1,566)

8.58pm Manikumar wins Bukit Selambau With all 22 polling boxes counted, Manikumar retained the seat for PKR by winning with a 2,396-vote majority, a slightly higher margin than in the 2008 general elections.

Manikumar is already celebrating at the official counting centre SM Teknik in Sungai Petani. Along with him is Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PKR vice-president Azmin Ali.

(Source: http://malaysiakini.com/)

Today is the day ...

The three by-elections that will determine the rise or fall of Malaysia's two alliances (the National Front and the People's Alliance) is happening right now.

It is reported that the results will be out by 10 pm. 

Let us all cross our fingers and hope for the best.

Go Pakatan Rakyat! Go!

President Obama's Address to the Turkish Parliament

President Obama has done exceptionally well in his maiden trip to Europe. His speeches were rousing, inspiring and gave a glimpse into what America would be under his leadership. His address to the Turkish Parliament also went amazingly well. The line that I found, together with countless news agencies, is this: "Let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not and will never be at war with Islam".

Watch this short video that I obtained from Reuters and listen to the inspiring words of Mr Barack Hussein Obama.

Tri-by-election

Tomorrow is the day of reckoning for the Pakatan Rakyat government. So much is at stake in all three states (Kedah, Perak and Sarawak), especially Perak as the path to lead the state again depends solely on the victory of Nizar Jamaluddin.

I personally hope that the Pakatan Rakyat would come out victorious. I am a big supporter of the Pakatan Rakyat government.

But then again, what with Tun Dr Mahathir out in the campaign trail and Datuk Seri Anwar's failed revelation of a big surprise, we cannot really predict the outcome.

What we can do is just wait and see.

I urge the people of Perak, Kedah and Sarawak to vote wisely and not be tricked with rhetoric and promises which would not be fulfilled.

Maiden Speech of Malaysia's Sixth Prime Minister

ON behalf of all Malaysians, I would like to thank Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for his 31 years of exemplary public service to our country, his commitment to strengthening the institutions and fabric of our democracy and for his graceful example as our leader.

I am grateful to Tun for his confidence in proposing my name as Prime Minister to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and I am honoured that His Majesty has consented to my appointment with this morning’s swearing-in ceremony. I feel a deep sense of humility at the opportunity to serve as your Prime Minister at an important time in our nation’s history.

My life has been dedicated to public service.

Growing up, I was inspired by the positive impact of public service in the example of my late father. Four decades on, I remain committed to the goals of tackling poverty; of restructuring our society; of expanding access to quality education for all; and of inspiring a new generation of young Malaysians to work on behalf of this great country.

My own service in government has always been about getting results: to ensure a better deal for teachers, to improve conditions for our brave soldiers, and to strengthen our economy in defence of the people of Malaysia, as we deal with the outbreak of a global recession.

In the coming weeks, I will be consulting with people around our country, as I begin to reshape the leadership and priorities of the Government. I am mindful that we should build on the successes and lessons of the past. It must be a Government with new approaches for new times – a Government that places a priority on performance, because the people must come first.
We must reach out to all parts of Malaysia, to all our diverse communities. In our national discourse and in pursuing our national agenda, we must never leave anyone behind. We must reach out to the many who may have been disaffected and left confused by political games, deceit and showmanship.

We must draw on talented people across our nation, regardless of their position or background, to re-energise a passion for public service. We must sow the seeds of goodwill and understanding in every corner of this land so that we continue to harvest the fruits of progress and prosperity for all Malaysians.

We must seek to include and unlock the potential of our young people who will be the next generation of leaders, business people, engineers, scientists, teachers and doctors. We must give them wings to fly.

And so today, I pledge that I will work tirelessly to serve all of you.

In this spirit, I would like to announce that the Government has decided with immediate effect, to remove the temporary ban on two news publications, release 13 detainees from ISA detention and conduct a comprehensive review of the Internal Security Act. Additional details will be announced by the Home Affairs Ministry shortly.

These decisions are timely as we move to enhance the confidence of our citizens in those entrusted with maintaining peace, law and order, while recognising the need to remain vigilant of the very real security threats we continue to face as a young nation.

I know that for every citizen these are hard times and I remain focused in providing strong leadership to lead us out of this economic crisis and unleash our full potential as a nation. I will be steadfast in my commitment to meet the needs, aspirations and concerns of all Malaysians.

So today, I ask you to join me in this task of renewing Malaysia. I urge us to rise to the challenge of building a 1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now.

Let us begin this great journey together.

(Source: The Star Online)

Thus was the speech made by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Malaysia's sixth Prime Minister. It is one filled with optimism, an air of change and reform, and a bundle of generous promises.

Well, let us, as citizens of this country, keep watch of the fulfillment of these promises.

What is happening? Where art thou Home Minister?

When I perused the newspapers the other day, I was shocked to learn that two key publications of the opposition, Harakah and Suara Keadilan were suspended for three months by the Home Ministry. The reason given by the Minister was unsatisfactory: the publications were “wrong, sensational and sensitive in nature”. He was also reported by The Star that “But what cannot be tolerated is when the stories confuse and cause anger among the people. We also do not tolerate wrong and sensational reporting. This is detrimental in a multi-racial society like Malaysia.” This order came a few days before the UMNO elections and also before the vital by-elections in April.

His reasons may or may not be justified. However, when I came to know that there exists a blog (bukitgantangbersatu.blogspot.com) that so blatantly and valiantly calls for the death of former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, and that no actions are being carried out by the Home Ministry, I was and still am appalled and disappointed.

The particular post, entitled, “Kill Nizar”, lists down reasons why he deserves such a sentence. His supposed defiance by not resigning as the menteri besar weeks back was seen as treason by the owner of the blog. The blog also stated that only “dogs, swines and prostitutes would support Nizar.”

My question is why is not the Home Minister issuing any order to bring in the owner of the blog for questioning? Why is not the blog blocked from public viewing? This blog not only perpetrates a murder of a leader but also mocks him as a puppet of DAP. Surely this verges on defamation. And surely this propagates lies and, to borrow the exact words of the Home Minister, “detrimental in a multi-racial society like Malaysia”. So why is not Syed Hamid Albar doing his job as Home Minister? Where are the infamous ISA or Sedition Act?

We made it!

My sister and I made it! The people from KLPAC called us today and told us we were succesful in our auditions. We are now officially part of the ensemble. Here's the message posted on my Facebook account:

This year’s manic “One Day Only” session of auditions are done. We would like to appreciate each and every one of you who took time out to audition for a place on The T4YP Ensemble.
The T4YP Team would like to extend a warm welcome to 16 talented young people who are soon to grace the stage as members of The T4YP Ensemble for 2009.


Dinesh Kumar Maganathan

Priyadashini Maganathan


These new members are joined by another 15 Ensemble Members from 2008 that have been made part of the T4YP Alumni.

I didn't include the names of the others due to privacy purposes.

On the steps of a knight

Never have I imagined myself or my sister doing what we did today. It was something we have been doing, in the vicinity of our home, for years and also in our school. It was and still is something we aspire to be in some distant future.

Forgive me for being vague. We went for an audition at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre today. And what an experience it was. We had to recite a Shakespearean monologue and a contemporary monologue. My role model was Sir Ian McKellen, the great theatre actor as well as a great screen actor. When you watch him play a Shakespearean drama, it will give you goosebumps and make you appreciate the art of acting.

Then four of us were called for a group session. That was fun. We had to do stuff to test our spontaneity. And man, we scored big time. The judges laughed and had a good time. They even said we were the best lot so far. That was a great compliment.

Tomorrow, we would know if we made it or not. Whatever it is, we had fun.

'I'm a Musicon Celebrity thanks to Maxis Broadband

Wow! Once again, wow!

What an honour and mind-blowing experience would this be to attend the Nuffnang Music Bash 2009! And to be treated like celebrities. Wicked!

I have had built castles-in-the-air of being a renowned film director, walking on the red carpet, to the Academy Awards. Perhaps this dream might be actualised in the future but this event might actually give me a glimpse of stardom and the privileges that usually follow suit.

I wouldn't call myself the most accomplished of bloggers but I have always wanted to interact with my fellows as it were in a fun and exciting environment and now apparently I can. Just to think the number of contacts and the networking that would come about ...

So, I shall await the dawn of the 4th of April with much anticipation.

What a Superb Performance!

Sean Penn was phenomenon in his role as Harvey Milk in the highly acclaimed, based-on-true-life-story, Milk.

For fans of Sean Penn, you wouldn't have recognised him as he played his character as a homosexual man very convincingly. He even has an uncanny resemblance to the actual Harvey Milk. If you were to watche the movie and just observe his acting, you would be stunned! The way he talks, the way he moves and even the way he laughs and smiles. Superb!

And the story was rivetting as well. Based on the true story of Harvey Milk, the film takes viewers into the life of Harvey Milk, a homosexual man, who runs for the position of Supervisor for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. And then ... well ... I won't spoil it for you. Watch it and enjoy.

Bravo to Sean Penn for an outstanding performance and a well-deserved Oscar.

The Journey to the Cross

Dear Readers,

Next month, Christians around the world will be celebrating or should I say, commemorating Good Friday (the day the Lord Jesus was crucified) and Easter (the day the Lord was raised from the dead).

A week preceding these two days, I would post as and when it is necessary the path the Lord Christ took before he was ultimately crucified on the cross for mankind and chronicle as it were whatever He endured.

O Sacred Head Now Wounded - Fernando Ortega

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98LcbCkhqJs)

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown:
how pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
which once was bright as morn!

What thou, my Lord, has suffered
was all for sinners' gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
'Tis I deserve thy place;
look on me with thy favor,
vouchsafe to me thy grace.

What language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest friend,
for this thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever;
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for thee.

Earth Hour 2009

I am glad and I applaud the Malaysian media for bringing Earth Hour 2009 to light. I remember how last year this noble event was kind of in the shadows. I don't remember watching about it or reading about it. But when I watched an ad on local TV station 8TV about Earth Hour, I was much impressed.

Bravo!

And may be as Malaysians unite, as we always do when the occasion calls for it, and turn off our electricity together with the world to save our planet. I'm looking forward for the coming days leading to Earth Hour 2009 to see what else the Malaysian media have in store to propagate as it were this event.

Debate on royalty suppressed

Debate on royalty suppressed
3 Mar 09 : 7.01PM
By Yip Wai Fong

POLICE reports, bullets in the mail, angry protests and police interrogations. These are threats that have been expressed and carried out against individuals who have commented and criticised the monarchical heads in Malaysia. The monarchy appears to have garnered more media attention as newsmakers and opinion leaders in the last two years.

As the Head of the Federation and an institution of the Malays, discussing the royalty is largely a taboo for the general populace. Not unlike Thailand's lese-majeste law, the Sedition Act, which was introduced in a period of high ethnic tension, protects Malaysian royalty under very broad provisions against defamation. Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy where the rulers of nine states rotate on a five-year basis as Head of the Federation — the Yang diPertuan Agong — and perform legislative, executive and judiciary functions. At the state level, the sultans are guardians of Islam, and Malay language and customs.

The spotlight is now on the northern state of Perak. Its head of state, Sultan Azlan Shah, made a crucial decision to allow the Barisan Nasional (BN) to regain control despite losing the 2008 state election. The decision was made after several state assemblypersons from the elected state government coalition, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR), declared their independence from the PR and support for the BN.

However, a public poll by the Merdeka Opinion Research Centre found that 74% of the people in Perak wanted a by-election to sort out the changes in state representation.

Karpal Singh, DAP chairperson — where the DAP is one of the partners in the PR — said that he would be filing a suit against the Perak sultan's decision in a special court. Last year, Karpal also questioned the jurisdiction of the Perak royalty when it reinstalled the head of the state Islamic council, against a transfer ordered by the state government.

In both cases, Karpal's statements attracted death threats and a slew of police reports against him by individuals and members of political parties. In the latest controversy, Karpal received two bullets enclosed in a mailed envelope, spelling threats to him and his family members.

Umno's shifting agenda

Also targeted in this episode were two bloggers: Ahiruddin Attan aka Rocky Bru, also president of the National Alliance of Bloggers, and Jed Yoong, a former writer for the DAP's party organ, the Rocket. Ahiruddin was questioned by police on 24 Feb over comments left on his blog about the role of the monarchy by known and anonymous commentators. A day before that, the police interrogated Jed Yoong over her fiery critique of the monarch in a posting on 12 Feb. Yoong's remarks drew the ire of the "Umno Virtual Club" (Kelab Maya Umno), which lodged the police report.

Mobilised by Umno, the dominant partner in the BN, public demonstrations in support of the monarchy were organised in Selangor, Malacca and Perak. The Umno-owned national daily, Utusan Malaysia, branded Karpal and former embattled Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as treasonous and seditious.

Umno's agenda must be treated with scepticism, especially against the backdrop of the constitutional amendments in 1983 when the BN sought to curtail the powers of the Malay rulers. At that time, Umno led a public campaign against the royalty, which included public protests, suggestive movies on state-owned television networks, and exposés of royal excesses. The amendment was successful and royal assent of legislation is now a matter of protocol. A decade later, the BN government again amended the Federal Constitution to establish a special court to prosecute members of the royalty charged with criminal acts in their personal capacity.

The media's role

These contradictions are not highlighted at all in the mainstream media, bringing into question the familiar spectre of political control in the newsroom. It is very clear that public discourse on the issue of the jurisdiction and powers of the royalty is tightly controlled. Umno-linked groups, media, and individuals have the monopoly of setting and swaying the national agenda.

The lack of critical journalism on constitutional and legal provisions means that those who choose to express their disagreements are seen as unpatriotic or worse, deserve to have their citizenship withdrawn. It is time for the public to be more mature in assessing information and their rights. It is also long overdue for the media to play its role to provide adequate and fair space for debate. Certainly, we do not want a situation where the mere mention of the royalty will draw the kinds of reactions we see in neighbouring Thailand.

Yip Wai Fong
Centre for Independent Journalism

(The Nut Graph) - (http://thenutgraph.com/debate-on-royalty-suppressed)

The Reader

(http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/blthereaderposter.htm)

If anyone deserved the Academy Award for Best Actress this year, it would be the versatile Kate Winslet. And how great it was when she reserved that honour.


Her portrayal of the character Hanna in The Reader was superb and awe-inspiring. It was like looking at a different person and she made me connect with the character.


And then, there's the movie itself. What a great movie! I loved it beginning to end. Very engaging, intense and wow weren't those sex scenes delicately filmed!


So for those of you who have not watched The Reader, I would advice you to watch it. You won't regret it.