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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Preaching to the preacher
God, as opposed to religion
Why are Malays so otak sempit?
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter
About hand gestures and signals
Signal not clear
Aren’t Malaysians weird?
What we are fighting for
Bringing up children
When white is not white

Posted: 23 Feb 2013 05:40 PM PST

Let me put it this way. Say for 35 years a Christian Evangelist knocks on your door every weekend to talk to you about Christ. And every weekend you curse that Christian and tell him to fuck off and then slam the door in his face. Sometimes you even let loose your dog on him and a couple of times he was actually bitten by your dog.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Amid mounting criticisms against Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat for describing recipients of 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) as 'chickens and cattle', the party's information chief said the remarks were merely metaphors.

Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Mat said Nik Aziz's remarks should not be taken literally as they were merely a kiasan (metaphor).

"I hope readers should not take the remarks literally. He (Nik Aziz) was only trying to convey that giving out knowledge is more important than giving money as an aid," he said.

Using the Malay proverb 'umpama melepaskan anjing tersepit' (literally translated "to release a trapped dog" which means to help someone who is bound to be ungrateful), as an example, Tuan Ibrahim said the phrase did not equate a person to a dog.

********************************************

This is certainly a breath of fresh air. I was of the opinion that opposition people do not understand idioms, metaphors, similes, expressions, sayings, proverbs, maxims, axioms, adages, etc. This was when Tun Dr Mahathir talked about the devil you know and then everyone jumped and clapped with glee and said that Dr Mahathir admitted that Umno is a devil.

Locking the barn door after the horse has bolted, crying over spilt milk, a stitch in time saves nine, look before you leap, and so on, are not about horses, milk, sewing and jumping over hedges. These proverbs mean it is no use taking action after the event, regretting an action after the damage is done, taking action early can prevent more damage, and you need to contemplate your actions beforehand, respectively.

Anyway, it is good that opposition people are not bodoh-sombong but merely bodoh-sepat. Bodoh-sombong means bodoh tak boleh diajar while bodoh-sepat means pura-pura bodoh tapi sebenarynya cerdik.

We need cerdik Malaysians, especially Malaysians cerdik enough to fool you into thinking that they are stupid because if I can make you think I am stupid that means I am cleverer than you.

One reader commented that I am sometimes very brutal or abrasive in my comments-in-reply to comments posted by Malaysia Today readers. That is certainly true. I get very abrasive when readers post comments or questions to an issue that I have already replied to so many times before.

It is apparent that their comment is not sincere. After explaining a certain issue in a very cheong hei manner, sometimes running into three or four pages, they still post comments or questions about the same thing that has already been addressed in the past, not once but many times.

I mean, how many times do you want me to address that same issue? When I, yet again, reply to what you say, you will say that my article is boring and that I am repeating the same thing over and over again and that I do not have modal baru. But it is you who are raising a matter that has already been settled. So what do you expect me to do? Just delete your comment and then have you scream "Hypocrite! No freedom of speech! Why delete my comment?"

Anyway, one comment that I usually reply to in a very brutal manner is the '55 years of BN is enough! It is time for change! Vote ABU! Kick BN out!' rhetoric. I just can't stand those who post such comments. First of all it is because it is empty rhetoric. Secondly it is because so many people have already posted that comment so you are merely parroting the same thing countless times. But most important of all, thirdly, it is because you are attempting to preach to the preacher. And that is most sickening of all.

Nevertheless, this Evangelist still very patiently keeps visiting you to try to convince you that your salvation is through Christ and you, as usual, curse him and tell him to go fuck his Christ. Finally, however, after 35 years, you convert to Christianity and the Evangelist praises the Lord that finally you have seen the light and have accepted Christ as your saviour.

Not long after you become a Christian, you suddenly turn into a fanatic. You scream that it is time for a new Christian crusade to be launched so that the infidel non-Christians can be exterminated and erased from the face of this earth. You say that Hitler who was a Christian was right in trying to exterminate the Jews who had killed Christ. Your only regret is that only 6 million Jews were killed. You only wished Hitler had succeeded in ridding the world of all the Jews.

Then you go to the Evangelist's house and knock on his door and start preaching Christianity to him. You shout and scream and call the Evangelist a coward for not taking up arms against the infidel non-Christians. The Middle East, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and so on, should be bombed, you argue. No non-Christians should be left alive.

The Evangelist does not agree and you accuse him of selling out. You allege that he has been bought. You vilify him and disparage him and call him a friend of Satan.

After months of haranguing and cursing, one day the Evangelist can take it no more he slaps your face and says that you are a disgrace to Christianity.

I feel just like that Evangelist. For 35 years I tried preaching to you. And each time you cursed me and chased me away and even set your dog on me. I was in fact bitten quite badly a few times. You called me all sorts of nasty names. You laughed at me. You even declared me a lunatic.

Then, one day, after 35 years since the 1970s, you suddenly saw the light. In 2008 you converted. And after you converted you started cursing me and said that I am a traitor to the cause.

Now you try to preach to me. You tell me what is good and what is bad. You forgot that for 35 years you acted like a bastard. Suddenly you are the chosen one and Christ came to you in your dream. You tell me about all the bad things that are going on. You refuse to admit that things are so bad mainly because you allowed them to become bad.

I remember, back in the mid-1990s, what the DAP Chinese supporters said to me in the late MGG Pillai's online forum, Sang Kancil. I remember how they ganged up on me and cursed me. I remember the nasty things they said to me. I remember being chased out of that forum and eventually I felt so hurt I did leave. I remember what happened in 1999 when I launched Kini (in Bahasa Malaysia) and The Malaysian (in English).

And today these are the same people who are claiming the moral high ground and with self-righteousness are trying to teach me what for 35 years I had tried to teach them and which they rejected.

Isn't life strange?

God, as opposed to religion

Posted: 22 Feb 2013 05:42 PM PST

Okay, back to the issue of Prophet Muhammad's marriage to Aisha when she was said to be just 6 years old or 9 years old or whatever. Of the many stories in Islam this appears to be the single most-favourite story that non-Muslims will raise to mock the Prophet and call him a paedophile, child rapist, pervert, criminal who would be sent to jail if he did that today, and so on.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Agnostic (noun)

1. A person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause and that the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.

2. A person who denies or doubts the possibility of ultimate knowledge in some area of study.

3. A person who holds neither of two opposing positions on a topic.

**************************************************

One or two readers posted comments today saying that my articles are boring or have become quite stale of late. That may be true. Education can sometimes be boring when you do not want to get educated or you feel you already know enough and do not need further education.

I do not think that I already know everything. I admit that there is still much I need to learn. And that was the reason why I signed up at Oxford University's Department of Continuing Education in 2011 plus I attended a few lectures in Oxford last year. I am currently on my third module and will be submitting my essay at the end of March.

Anyway, let me bore you, yet again, with another stale article. This article is not about God or about religion but I have titled it 'God, as opposed to religion' and I am going to make many references to God and religion.

Most simple-minded people -- and that would probably be more than half the readers of Malaysia Today -- think that the world is divided into those who believe in God (theists) and those who do not believe in God (atheists). They do not realise that there is a third group -- neither theist nor atheist -- who sit in between those two. And this group is called agnostics.

You can read the definition of agnostic at the top.

Before I go into the main thrust of my article, allow me, as usual, to digress -- in my normal cheong hei manner -- and address some of the comments posted in Malaysia Today over the last few weeks. This is merely a digression to make a short story long and is still not what I really want to talk about today.

One reader raised the issue of Prophet Muhammad's marriage to Aisha and said that this was what is reported in the Hadith.

Now, let's say I make certain references to the life of Jesus. And, let's also say, Christians disagree with my view and argue that my statement contradicts Christian beliefs. Then, say, I 'prove' to you that I am correct while you are wrong with quotes from the Gospel. You then ask me from which Gospel I am making this reference and I quote the Gospel of Barnabas.

You then argue that the Gospel of Barnabas may contain some remnants of earlier apocryphal works but it has never been canonised although it is about the same length as the four canonical gospels put together. I then counter by saying that the 'Gospel according to Barnabas' is mentioned in two early Christian lists of apocryphal works: the 6th-century Latin Decretum Gelasianumas well as the 7th-century Greek List of the Sixty Books. Hence it is authentic.

Okay, so what is my point here? Simple, my point is that I am telling you what a Christian should believe. You are a Christian while I am not. Yet I am telling you what is the correct Christianity and what is wrong Christianity. Should not you, a Christian, know better what you want to believe and do not want to believe? Who am I, a non-Christian, to teach you what is correct Christianity?

I would never presume to know Christianity better than you, a practicing Christian. And I would never attempt to teach you what is correct Christianity and what is wrong Christianity. Non-Muslims, however, presume they know Islam better than Muslims themselves and then will preach what is right Islam and what is wrong Islam.

Allow me to digress, yet again. Back in those days, and even up to 'modern' times, 'political marriages' were very common, even in the more 'civilised' Europe. Most political marriages would be between leaders or rulers to unite the different political factions or powers. Leaders or rulers did not marry for love. They married to strengthen their position and to gain political allies or to prevent other powers from turning enemy (once you are related by marriage you become friends).

Even in England and France the sons and daughters of Kings were married off to each other when they were still children. However, they would not be allowed to live as husband and wife until they reach the age of puberty, which could be 10 or 11. Hence they would have to live apart for a few years until then. And 'adulthood' would be when you reach puberty. In fact, at 13 you went to war and died for your country and at 19, if you were still single, you would be considered too old to get married. At 30 you would be an old man or woman.

Anyway, that was a mere digression. I am not trying to play the role of Muslim apologist here. I am bringing to your attention that the value system and traditions/customs in those days were different from today. Christians killed Jews in those days. Catholics killed Protestants and Protestants killed Catholics in those days.

Hell, the English Parliament even banned Christmas and ordered shops to stay open on 25th December, less than 400 years ago, because Christmas was considered a pagan festival and not the day to mark the birth of Christ. And, 1,000 years before that banning of Christmas, Prophet Muhammad was said to have entered into a political alliance with the most powerful warlord of Mekah by marrying his underage daughter.

But that is not really what I want to argue today. What I do want to argue is: where did this story come from? Is it in the Qur'an? No! It is from the Hadith. So, you argue, since it is from the Hadith, then it must be true and hence Prophet Muhammad was a paedophile.

Okay, let us rewind a bit. You are quoting from the Hadith and you are telling me that this is what my Hadith says and since I am a Muslim I must believe in this Hadith.

Now hold on a minute. Are all Christians Catholics? Aren't there many denominations of Christianity? Hence why do you assume that all Muslims believe in the same thing? You do not even bother to ask me what denomination Muslim I am and you shove down my throat your interpretation of Islam as if there is only one denomination of Islam. Can I insist that you believe in the Gospel of Barnabas and then pass judgment on you because you have 'deviated' from the teachings of Barnabas?

Not all Muslims believe in the Hadith. These people are normally unfairly called the anti-Hadith group. Actually they are not anti-Hadith as much as they hold to the Qur'an as God's true word and believe that all other 'holy books' other than the Qur'an are superfluous.

Then there are those who believe in some of the Hadith but not all of them. Further to that, there are those who believe in a different set of Hadith. Hence, on the issue of Hadith alone, there are so many different denominations of Muslims. So, when you quote the Hadith to a Muslim without knowing his of her position on Hadith, it is like quoting Barnabas to a Christian and assume that since he or she is a Christian then she or she must believe in Barnabas.

So far we are talking about Muslims and Christians. For sure Muslims and Christians are theists. And they believe not only in God but also in the religion of God (which means they are religionists as well). But what happens if you believe in God (or at least in some higher power that created us) but not in the religion of God? Then you would be an agnostic. You are neither Muslim nor Christian.

The arguments are normally between Muslims and Christians (even here in Malaysia Today). But you fail to see that there is a third group, a Third Force if you wish and if that can help you better understand the issue. And this third group thinks that both the Muslims and Christians are equally wrong.

Yes, there is a God. But there is no religion. God is the destination you wish to arrive at. Religion is merely one of those vehicles you use to arrive at that destination called God.

Okay, enough with all that religion bullshit. After three pages of talking cock let me get to the punch line. And the punch line is: there are two 'religions' called Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat quarrelling over whose 'God' is the true God, whose 'Prophet' is the genuine Prophet, and whose 'Holy Book' is the authentic Holy Book.

I then declare that I am not a religionist but an agnostic. And while I acknowledge the existence of God, I do not accept that religions came from God. I think that religions are manmade.

And then both sides of the religious divide call me a kafir, infidel, nonbeliever, unbeliever, disbeliever, doubter, heretic, apostate, heathen, pagan, and whatnot. They tell me that the only way to reach God is through their religion. And both sides claim that their religion is true while the other is false.

Nevertheless, while I still want God, I do not want corrupt religions where their followers do the opposite of what they say. Hence if you think that I am a kafir, infidel, nonbeliever, unbeliever, disbeliever, doubter, heretic, apostate, heathen, pagan, and whatnot; so be it.

Lakum dinakum waliyadin (to you be your religion and to me my religion): Qur'an, Surah Al-Kafirun, 109:6

(Now, I bet most of you will be debating religion instead of the last five paragraphs of this article, which is the point I am really driving at).

Why are Malays so otak sempit?

Posted: 19 Feb 2013 04:12 PM PST

The film's 52-year-old writer, Bacile, said that he wanted to showcase his view of Islam as a hateful religion. "Islam is a cancer, period," he said in a telephone interview from his home. "The movie is a political movie. It's not a religious movie."

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Do you remember last year the brouhaha the Malays (meaning also Muslims) made about the movie that Jew produced insulting Prophet Muhammad? And earlier we had the brouhaha about the threat by the pastor to burn the Qur'an.

There were many comments posted in Malaysia Today regarding the stupidity and backwardness of the Malays in protesting such a non-event -- and quite rightly so. The Malays give the impression that they are so otak sempit (small-minded).

In this day and age of globalisation, the borderless Internet, and the information revolution, you really can't stop people from exercising their freedom of opinion and expression. And we have to learn to live with this without screaming and foaming at the mouth every time someone says something we do not like.

If, for example, a Malay were to produce a movie that the non-Malays do not like, do you think the non-Malays will scream and foam at the mouth? Or, say, a Malay threatens to burn the Bible? Do you think the non-Malays would take any notice of that threat?

The Malays have to learn to be like the non-Malay Malaysians and not rant and rave every time you do not like what someone says. And this was what Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad lamented about when he said that the Malays are too emotional and feudalistic and should be more pragmatic like the Chinese. And Dr Mahathir is right. The Malays are too emotional, unlike the Chinese and Indians.

Will you ever find non-Malays cursing and screaming about a movie? If they don't like the movie they will just not watch it. Simple! Why get so upset? This, the Malays have to learn to do if they do not want to be accused of being small-minded.

And if you threaten to, say, burn the Bible, the non-Malays would not get upset. After all, it is just a book, like the Qur'an. Ignorant people have been burning books for thousands of years and life still goes on.

And if the Bible, just like the Qur'an, is God's book, then surely God can take care of His own book. Does he need us mere mortals to help protect His book?

When we say that the Malays are otak sempit they get angry. But how not to call the Malays otak sempit when they get so emotional and upset about a mere movie and a book?

*************************************************

Israeli Citizen Living in California Behind Film Insulting Islam

An Israeli filmmaker, Sam Bacile, based in California went into hiding after a YouTube trailer of his movie attacking Islam's Prophet Muhammad sparked violent demonstrations in many Muslim cities around the world including Egypt and Libya where the US ambassador to and three American members of his staff were killed.

The release of the film coincided with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington during which he leveled what The Wall Street Journal said the "sharpest attacks in years by an Israeli leader against Washington, over differences on how to address Iran's nuclear program,"

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal by phone Tuesday from an undisclosed location, writer and director Sam Bacile remained defiant, saying Islam is a cancer and that the 56-year-old intended his film to be a provocative political statement condemning the religion.

According to the Wall Street Journal, "tensions had so escalated that President Barack Obama spent an hour on the phone with the Israeli leader in a hastily arranged call hours after both governments said the White House wouldn't agree to an Israeli request for a meeting between the two leaders at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York this month."

Protesters angered over Bacile's film opened fire on and burned down the US consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. Four Americans were killed Tuesday night including Ambassador Chris Stevens.

Bacile said he raised $5 million from about 100 Jewish donors, whom he declined to identify. Working with about 60 actors and 45 crew members, he said he made the two-hour movie in three months last year in California.

The film has been promoted by Terry Jones, the Florida pastor whose burning of Qurans previously sparked deadly riots around the world. He said he was planning to show the trailer for Mr. Bacile's movie to his congregation.

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 06:03 PM PST

And this is where Peter and Paul disagreed. Basically, Peter's 'market' was fellow Jews so the old Jewish traditions must be maintained. Paul, however, wanted to expand the 'market' to non-Jews. So the old traditions of the Jews should be discarded. And instead of circumcision, those non-Jews (who were therefore not circumcised) should be baptised when they leave their old religion to become Christians.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter," said Sir Winston Churchill. In fact, there is another quote from Churchill: "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the forms of government that have been tried from time to time."

While we are on the subject of quotes from Churchill, you may want to read what more he said.

"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else."

"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."

"Any 20 year-old who isn't a liberal doesn't have a heart, and any 40 year-old who isn't a conservative doesn't have a brain."

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

"I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."

"Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things."

Anyway, those are but a fraction of sayings from Sir Winston Churchill to brighten up your Sunday evening (or Sunday morning here in the UK). But that is not what I want to talk about today. What I want to talk about is the issue of Haron Din being scolded, cursed, vilified and disparaged because of the stand he has taken regarding the use of the Allah word in the Bible.

For both Muslims as well as Christians, they need to understand the boundaries of decent discourse and when does that discourse exceed the boundary and falls into the category of indecency. And this is why I have titled today's article "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

The average voter, meaning the majority of Malaysia Today's readers, have absolutely no idea what democracy means. Democracy means Haron Din has a right to his view and so do you. And democracy does not mean if you differ in view you have the right to attack the other person verbally, or worse, physically.

For example, we can disagree on whether Malaysia should remain a Secular Constitutional Monarchy or be changed into a Secular Republic or, as some are proposing, a Theocratic Constitutional Monarchy or an Islamic Republic. At the end of the day, we all have different views and different choices.

And that is why there are so many religions and sects of these many religions in existence plus, of course, agnostics and atheists. This is because we have differing views about religion and God and about the way to 'reach' God -- and whether God even exists or not in the first place and if He does then in what form.

However, although we may disagree on theological issues, this does not mean since Malaysia is a democracy that gives me the right to disparage someone who has a different view from me. It just means we have different views and we should respect each other's views.

I have read comments from readers who say that Muslims are stupid for not wanting to eat pork because pork is so delicious. You know that pork is taboo to Muslims so why the need to goad Muslims with such comments? Have you read any comments from Muslims saying that Hindus are stupid for not wanting to eat beef because beef is so delicious?

If Muslims do not want to eat pork (or Hindus do not want to eat beef) then let it be. Learn to respect the taboos of each religion. I am sure you do not like it when I say that Chinese are stupid for getting upset with Ibrahim Ali when he gave white colour angpau for Chinese New Year. If white angpau are meant for funerals and are taboo for Chinese New Year then we respect that tradition. Saying that Chinese are stupid for believing such silly superstition is provocative and will certainly trigger bad-will.

In fact, did you know that pork was actually taboo to the early Christians as well (who were not yet called 'Christians' but 'followers of the Jesus Movement')? No, I am not talking about the Christian doctrine or dogma here. I am talking about history. And if you study in greater detail the history of the Apostles (not what the Bible says but what the historians say) then you would know what I am talking about.

For the benefit of the non-Christians, in particular the Muslims, the majority who have never studied Christian history, the 12 Apostles are as follows:

1. Simon Peter (brother of Andrew).

2. James (son of Zebedee and older brother of John) also called "James the Greater".

3. John (son of Zebedee and brother of James).

4. Andrew (brother of Simon Peter).

5. Philip of Bethsaida.

6. Thomas (Didymus).

7. Bartholomew (Nathaniel).

8. Matthew (Levi) of Capernaum.

9. James (son of Alphaeus) also called "James the Lesser".

10. Simon the Zealot (the Canaanite).

11. Thaddaeus-Judas (Lebbaeus), brother of James the Lesser and brother of Matthew (Levi) of Capernaum.

12. Judas Iscariot.

The Roman Catholic Church puts a great deal of emphasis on (Simon) Peter and claims that Jesus said he would build his church on him. "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." (Matthew 16:18).

In fact, (St.) Peter is considered the First Pope of the Catholic Church. Hence Peter is regarded as one of the most important Apostles of Christianity. The second most important Apostle, however, is not one of the other 11 but Paul.

Paul was a strong anti-Jesus Movement Jewish zealot who made it his mission to destroy this movement. In fact, it is said that he was there to witness the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (and it is also said that Paul held Stephen's cloak while Stephen was being stoned to death). Paul was instrumental in arresting and torturing those who had strayed from true Judaism by following the false teachings of the Jesus Movement.

One day, while travelling from Jerusalem to Damascus on his mission to hunt down and kill Christians, Paul 'saw' Jesus in the form of a mirage. Paul was immediately blinded but, three days later, his sight was restored by Ananias of Damascus. This 'miracle' prompted Paul to become a follower of the Jesus Movement.

However, while Peter and the other disciples focused their missionary work just on fellow Jews, Paul felt that Christianity should be for all, not only for Jews. So Paul started preaching Christianity to the gentiles and pagans. And to attract non-Jews to Christianity there should be a certain relaxing of the rules, so to speak.

Hence the need for circumcision and the banning of eating pork, as an example, which are a Jewish tradition and therefore also the tradition of the early Christians, should be reviewed. By Paul's reckoning, non-Jew Christians should be exempted from circumcision and should be allowed to eat pork.

Of course, there were more non-Jews than there were Jews. Hence, understandably, Paul's movement expanded faster than Peter's. Furthermore, while Peter focused on small Jewish communities, Paul travelled to the bigger non-Jewish cities where there were more people and therefore more potential converts.

And because Paul's version of Christianity, so to speak, was more 'liberal' (for want of a better word) compared to Peter's (which retained the strict Jewish taboos and traditions) more people followed Paul than Peter.

The 'headquarters' of the Church of England is St Paul's Cathedral in London, founded in 604, around the time that Islam was founded. The 'headquarters' of the Roman Catholic Church, however, is St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, founded in 319 by the Emperor Constantine.

Now, can you figure out why that is so (make your own conclusion on this)?

This is, of course, my analysis of the early development of Christianity and based on historical accounts and not based on what the Bible says. So I can expect many Christians to disagree with my analysis. And they have every right to do so (as do many Malays/Muslims also disagree with my historical analysis of the early development of Islam -- and the reason why many of my Malay/Muslim friends are no longer my friends: because they disagree with me).

Nevertheless, since we are talking about democracy and the right of non-Muslims to comment on Islam, I, too, exercise my democratic right to offer my analysis regarding the early development of Christianity.

That is how democracy works, unfortunately.

So, my conclusion to this is: if you are a follower of Peter, then pork should be haram for you (plus you should be circumcised) while, if you are a follower of Paul, then pork should be halal (and you only need to be baptised). So be very careful before you whack the Muslims and call them stupid for refusing to eat 'delicious pork'.

About hand gestures and signals

Posted: 14 Feb 2013 07:45 PM PST

The Malay response to this would be: awak jual, saya beli, which means if you are selling then I will buy. Therefore, if you show Malays your middle finger, they would find it extremely shameful if they did not respond to the cabaran (challenge). It is in the Malay psyche to not walk away from a challenge unless you want to go down in history as a disgrace to your race.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

To certain communities, hand gestures and signals are a big deal. People have lost their lives just because they were perceived to have shown the 'wrong' hand gesture or signal. Do you remember reading last month about that chap who was killed by a triad member because the triad member thought this chap had shown the 'wrong' signal? Actually it was a case of 'mistaken identity'. That chap who was killed was actually an OKU.

Anwar Ibrahim is facing a criminal charge for giving the wrong hand gesture/signal during the Bersih rally. Hence hand gestures or signals can get you in trouble with the law if you are not careful. And in the wrong place and to the wrong person it can cost you your life.

The latest brouhaha is regarding that science graduate from Scotland who showed the Raja Permaisuri Agong and a senior police officer his middle finger. There is currently a hue and cry going on, both by his supporters who think this Chinese chap is a hero as well as by those who feel he is downright biadap (insolent).

I was told this showing of your middle finger first started during the 100 Years War between England and France back in the 1300s-1400s. The English had their archers who were most feared by the French (remember Robin Hood?). Hence whenever the French captured these English archers they would cut off the middle finger of these Englishmen so that they can never again shoot arrows at the French (this was, of course, before the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 that stipulated how prisoners of war should be treated).

So whenever the English archers met up with the French on the battlefield they would goad the French by showing the French their middle finger, to demonstrate that they had not lost their middle finger and therefore were going to whack the French good and proper.

I really do not know whether this story is true or not but it certainly is a nice story, don't you think so?

Anyway, since that day, showing someone your middle finger was meant as an insult or aimed at antagonising that person and inviting that person to a fight.

The Malay response to this would be: awak jual, saya beli, which means if you are selling then I will buy. Therefore, if you show Malays your middle finger, they would find it extremely shameful if they did not respond to the cabaran (challenge). It is in the Malay psyche to not walk away from a challenge unless you want to go down in history as a disgrace to your race.

In a way, the Chinese and Indians are the same. They hate to be challenged and not respond to that challenge.

A few years ago I was covering a press conference at a hotel and arrived about an hour early so that I can set up my video camera at a most strategic location. This was during the days of the Reformasi movement and Ishak, another reformist, set up his video camera beside me. He too had arrived early.

About five minutes after the press conference had started a Chinese reporter rushed in and started snapping photographs. He then stood in front of my video camera and all I got were shots of the back of his head.

I tapped this Chinese chap lightly on the shoulder (and I made sure I smiled) and told him that he was blocking my video camera. He suddenly turned and started screaming and cursing at me. Halfway through the press conference he left, but as he was leaving he continued shouting and cursing at me and gestured at me to follow him outside -- clearly meaning for a fight.

Ishak looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and I just shrugged my shoulders.

In another incident in front of Parliament House, we were covering the handing over of a Memorandum to the opposition Members of Parliament. The security officers locked the gate of Parliament House and refused us entry so the MPs had to walk outside to accept the Memorandum.

As the Memorandum was being handed over we all rushed to take photographs and there was a lot of pushing and shoving. One Chinese reporter and I accidentally bumped into each other. I did not bump into him or him into me. It was more like we bumped into each other, but not that serious, though -- none of us lost our balance or anything of that sort.

This reporter then turned and was about to punch me when a DAP chap grabbed him and said something to him in Chinese. I don't know what the DAP chap said but this Chinese reporter continued glaring at me. Understandably, I moved as far away from him as possible.

I suppose that tap on the shoulder and bumping into that reporter was interpreted as a cabaran. And these two Chinese reporters were not about to let me get away with it. I dread what would have happened if I had shown them my middle finger. Can you guess what the outcome of that would have been?

Malays do not normally take things as a cabaran unless you really demonstrate that it is a cabaran -- like showing them your middle finger. Tapping someone lightly on the shoulder with a smile on your face or accidentally bumping into someone does not come under that category of cabaran.

What is perturbing to read, though, are the comments by some readers that say the chap who showed the Raja Permaisuri Agong his middle finger did no wrong because the institution of the monarchy is outdated anyway and should be abolished and Malaysia turned into a Republic.

Now, that, the Malays would take as a cabaran.

Signal not clear

Posted: 13 Feb 2013 06:46 PM PST

Personally, I have no problem with either, because not always is democracy or majority voice the best way to solve issues. What if 50.01% of the people want Malaysia to be turned into an Islamic State (the Islamic Kingdom of Malaysia), with the Shariah law of Hudud as the basis of its criminal laws, while 49.99% disagree? Based on a democracy where majority rules, Malaysia would now become an Islamic State even if 49.99% of the people are opposed to it.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

BR1M payout must be orderly: Labuan DAP

(Daily Express) - Labuan DAP Chairman Lau Seng Kiat said the RM500 payment under BR1M 2.0 here should have been done with proper planning so that it could be carried out smoothly and orderly and not with recipients having to wait for hours in a jam-packed venue.

"Recipients of the financial aid deserve more respect."

"After all what is being given to them comes from taxpayers and due to surplus collection by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB)," he said.

He was commenting on the chaotic situation in the RM500 payout under the scheme at the Multi-Purpose Hall here from 7.30am to 5pm last Friday.

Lau said the announcement made through the print and electronic media about the payment gave no clear details and this led to thousands, who thought that it was the first and final payment under BR1M 2.0, inundating the hall, causing much inconvenience and frustration, especially the elderly and women. According to Lau, he received many complaints about this.

"Many had to make several trips back to the hall thinking that the crowd had shrunk but it was not. Apart from the hall, the road was also lined with cars for about one kilometre long," he said.

He said the local administrators should ensure a better system of distribution of the aid was in place.

"But it does not seem to be the case. For many, the joy of receiving the aid became diluted with anger for having to wait unnecessarily for several hours," he added.

Lau also said that because of the chaos many did not bother to check on their eligibility for the money on that day.

"It would have been better if the distribution of the aid was divided into phases for different groups based on age," he said.

Under BR1M 1.0, some 10,100 here received RM500.

Under the present phase, the figure is expected to be more.

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Politicians should be very careful about what they say. And I am talking about politicians from both sides of the political divide. Too many times politicians contradict themselves and also contradict each other, leading to confusion as to what the real issues are and whether they are unanimous on certain ideals and policies or whether they merely agree to disagree.

For example, Barisan Nasional normally insists that you 'toe the party line'. In other words, MCA, MIC, Gerakan, etc., cannot make a statement contradictory to Barisan Nasional's 'common stand'. In the past, some leaders from the non-Umno parties within Barisan Nasional have been suspended (even from Parliament), or disciplinary action has been taken against them, when they make a statement that is perceived as a dissenting stand.

We all know that Barisan Nasional means Umno. Hence Barisan Nasional's stand can be translated to Umno's stand. And the non-Umno parties within Barisan Nasional must kowtow to Umno's stand, which would also be Barisan Nasional's stand.

In short, in Barisan Nasional, there is no consensus. Umno decides and Barisan Nasional, plus all the members of Barisan Nasional, must comply. And this would mean Barisan Nasional does not act based on democratic principles but rather based on autocracy. And this is certainly another word for dictatorship (I dictate and you follow).

Pakatan Rakyat, however, works -- according to what they tell us -- on consensus. That means all three members -- PKR, DAP and PAS -- must agree to a certain policy before it is adopted. And if it is not unanimously agreed then it is not done.

The essence of a democracy is that the majority rules. However, when it is on a consensus, then the majority's wishes do not count because it has to be all or nothing.

This, I believe, is one contradiction. Hence it must be made clear whether Pakatan Rakyat works as a democracy (where majority rules) or whether it must be unanimous (which means all or nothing even if the majority wants it).

Malaysians do not yet grasp the fundamentals of a democracy based on majority rule compared to unanimous decision based on all or nothing. Unanimous does not quite translate to democracy because, in this situation, the minority voice has no say.

Hence, in that kind of situation, maybe a consensus based on unanimous agreement would be better than majority rule. And that is why I said I am okay with either because, depending on the situation, democracy might sometimes work against us.

And then we have the second contradiction. Pakatan Rakyat also says that they always agree to disagree. However, while that is certainly very civilised and mature, where does that place the 'common platform'? This would give an impression that there are still many areas that PKR, DAP and PAS cannot agree on.

Then what do we do? Do we allow freedom of opinion, freedom of speech, freedom of choice, etc., to prevail and hence allow those Pakatan Rakyat leaders who do not agree with certain policies to express their opinions? If we do then would this not give an impression of disunity? Or do we impose a censorship on all personal opinions and take disciplinary action against those who do not toe the party line? Is this in line with the spirit of democracy?

Now let us look at what the DAP Chairman for Labuan, Lau Seng Kiat, said: "After all what is being given to them comes from taxpayers and due to surplus collection by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB)."

Lau was lamenting about the messy way the money was being paid out. But why that part about "……due to surplus collection by the Inland Revenue Board…."?

Maybe Lau did not realise that this statement of his contradicts other statements made by Pakatan Rakyat leaders that the country is going bankrupt. How can the country be going bankrupt and yet at the same time the IRB has surplus money?

Fortunately for these politicians, most Malaysians have short memories and do not really take too much notice of what politicians say. It not you will find tons of contradictory statements being made by politicians from both sides of the political divide.

Aren’t Malaysians weird?

Posted: 11 Feb 2013 05:44 PM PST

Do you know that I happened to be in Canberra, Australia, at the same time that Najib was in town and I was invited to the official lunch in honour of Malaysia's Prime Minister? I politely declined the invitation and explained to Senator Nick Xenophon that if I attended that lunch it would mean I support Najib since the lunch was in his honour. You should have seen the smiles on the faces of the SABM Australia lads who agreed that by attending the lunch this would mean I am 'endorsing' Najib.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I wrote 'Sanggang - the BA's wake-up call' (READ HERE) 13 years ago back in April 2000. In March 2004, I wrote 'Crowds don't translate to votes' (READ HERE). Basically, these articles were about the fallacy that if there is a huge crowd at your function or event then this means these people support you.

I have been trying to tell the opposition this for more than a decade and it appears that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has discovered this over the weekend. The huge crowd at the Chinese New Year gathering cum PSY concert in Penang cannot be translated to a show of support for Barisan Nasional. The crowd was there for a free concert, not to support Barisan Nasional.

This is the nature of Malaysians. If there is a free meal they will be there in hordes even if they hate you. I personally saw thousands of people at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Hari Raya open house in 2006 -- many of them, in fact, non-Malays. And some even brought bags and plastic containers to tapau the food, the Chinese equivalent of a doggie bag.

It was actually most embarrassing and I saw that Dr Mahathir pretended he did not notice this was happening (my wife, Marina, shook her head in disgust). But how can you not notice your guests emptying the tables and pouring the food into bags and plastic containers? Were they there because they loved Dr Mahathir or were they there because they wanted to plunder the table and bring enough food home for a whole week?

And the Chinese New Year concert in Penang is yet another demonstration that Malaysians can hate you but they will come to your party as long as it is free and they need not pay anything. If fact, even if they need to pay they will do so.

And that is why it is very difficult to get Malaysians to stop patronising the gaming outlets or to stop buying fast food, etc. (even though gambling and fast food are bad for you). They will scream about all sorts of things and then they will give their business to businesses owned by Barisan Nasional cronies and financiers. As much as we tell them that by making these people rich they are also making Barisan Nasional rich these people refuse to listen.

And this is one thing that is most puzzling about Malaysians. They say one thing but they do the opposite of what they say. They scream about corruption and about why we need change and then they will suap a policeman to avoid paying a fine for a traffic offence. They will scream about how bad the government is and why Malaysia needs change and then they will absorb all the corrupted Barisan Nasional politicians into the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.

Probably this is the way Malaysians have been brought up by their parents. For example, if I hated Najib I would never attend his Chinese New Year open house even if the food is free and Elton John was going to sing at that open house. I would vote with my feet. I would boycott the event on point of principle. I would never show support by attending his open house and then say that I hate him and am not there because of him.

The funny thing is, these people who hate Najib and yet attend his Chinese New Year open house are the same people who accuse others of having no principles. Don't you find that hilarious? Apparently they do not understand what the word 'principles' means.

And we are entrusting the future of the country in the hands of these people and are hoping that they will make the right choices and do the right things. I think we need at least 30 years or more before we can reach the stage where Malaysians can walk the talk and practice what they preach.

There were some comments posted today by those who do not like what I write that said I have lost their respect. Honestly, do you think I am so concerned about the respect of people who do not respect themselves by attending a Chinese New Year party of someone they hate?

(I met the Senator to ask him to support Bersih, which he did. He actually went to Kuala Lumpur during the Bersih march to show support and the Malaysian government was pissed big-time).

But then that is me and I look at things differently compared to most Malaysians who can hate you and then come to your party. If everyone thought like me then there would have been a Chinese New Year party with no crowd and Najib would really have been embarrassed. Now Umno can always say that that video recording (of the crowd screaming 'no!') was doctored like the ones of Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali (don't we always scream that videos are doctored?).

What we are fighting for

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 07:31 PM PST

You may not agree with some of our views but then you -- the government, that is -- must respect our right to these views. And if you do not then it is time for a change of government -- no two ways about it. If you disagree with us then you have the right of rebuttal as well -- just like we have a right to disagree with you. Whacking us just because you do not like what we say is so yesterday and the culture of an era of days gone by.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The government, Barisan Nasional, Umno, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, and so on, do not appear to understand what the rakyat wants. They do not appear to know what we are fighting for.

We are fighting for freedom of speech. We are fighting for freedom of expression. We are fighting for freedom of opinion. We are fighting for freedom of association. We are fighting for freedom of choice. We are fighting for freedom of thought. We are fighting for freedom of the media. And so on.

Basically, this means we must be allowed the right to choose who to believe in, what to believe in, what to think, what to say, what to write, etc. And, this, the government does not seem to understand and does not allow. Hence Malaysians are being denied their fundamental rights.

Any government that wishes to rule over us must first understand this. And if they don't then we just cannot accept them as our government. No longer can the government lord over us as in the days of the absolute monarchies. Those days are gone. In England they were discarded in the 1640s and in the rest of Europe in the 1840s -- much later in China, India and our home, Malaysia.

In case you still do not understand what we are trying to tell you then read some of the comments below posted by Malaysia Today's readers over the last 48 hours or so. If you want you can read more comments HERE.

The government, Barisan Nasional, Umno, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, etc., need to be more open and mature. In today's borderless and globalised world you cannot allow just what you like and disallow what you don't like. This is something that we are trying to change. So please read the comments below so that you can grasp the spirit of the right to dissent, to agree to disagree, and discourse in a civilised and mature manner.

written by bumiputar2, February 11, 2013 14:53:03

most of the times pariah dogs like to bark.

and they always bark at the wrong tree.

when its master tell it to sit, it never ever dare to even think of standing.

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written by Randholm Lee Siew Hong, February 11, 2013 11:16:08

This Bootlicker is doing what he doe s best. He should also be actively helping the Plastinians, not Malaysians.. That is his calling, same as the most famous immigrant in Malaysia.

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written by Mah Thian Kan, February 11, 2013 10:41:55

Matthias oh Matthias, always feeling & thinking he is more intellectual than others and forever spewing Tun M deceitful propaganda & make believe plots & fairy tales. Take a walk, go to ground, you will know groundswell truth & Rakyat aspiration for change and ABU. When one's brain has relocated to arse, sitting on it for too long, Matthias sure can concoct grandstanding tales that try serve BN @ cronies But remember many Malaysians are of high intellect too & will understand your outer manifestation of "intellect superiority posturing" that actually hides yours & BN's deep deep sense of submerged inferiority complex & great loss now.

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written by enikalila, February 11, 2013 10:27:29

One does not need to finish reading d article to know that its writer is a 'running dog fun kuat chai'. I thought that this traitor has repented but then again how can he repent when d sifu is an evil karTun.

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written by Kabir, February 11, 2013 09:19:57

Hey Mahathirs Mongrel If BN wins 1) BN under Mahathirs control will strip our citizenship easily by changing the constitution.2) They will continue the 2 nation 1 country policy. 3) Taxes collected from us will be used for the benefit of all races but Zakat which is completely deductable against tax not income is only for muslims. Which means non muslims shoulder the development of this country and the other lives on our expense. 4) Education is gone to the rocks. and soon be completely islamised 5) Teaching of English in Science and maths withdrawn which PR will reintroduce or establish english language schools

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written by robert ng, February 11, 2013 08:28:53

The Opposition has also run out of ammunitions and their rank and file is woefully battle-fatigued. Self-doubts have emerged and major policy disagreements between DAP and PAS have divided the rank and file as well. Karpal Singh has done an invaluable service to the BN government. Whatever surprises that were touted as game-changers, such as the so-called political realignments in Sabah, could not be sustained and have not been transformed into any major groundswell.

By Matthias Chang – Future Fast-forward

YEOH, CHOW KOW..... LONG TIME NO BARK EH??? SO, ITS THAT TIME TO MAKE YOURSELF

RELEVANT AGAIN AH???? PLS SHUT UP AND GO LICK YR MASTER'S N*TS

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written by Sulaiman Lim Abdullah, February 11, 2013 07:51:47

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written by tan wai kong, February 11, 2013 01:33:10

I am reading trash from a Tun's dog. I thought you are better than Tun.

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written by lynn, February 11, 2013 01:28:55

Thought this guy has gone awol, suddenly he popped out of the sewers with his near perfect english. It's amazing, how what is published in the media can sway ppl's opinions - this mouthpiece is hooked-up with that kerala mamak fr the southwest. Ptui. We must stand our ground, vote PR, put Anwar into power. ANWAR AS PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA.

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written by Philip Yap, February 11, 2013 01:08:36

This is mamak goon, nothing can be worst than bringing back the mamak, voting for BN is same as bringing mamak back to control the country, more corruption, more police brutality, bias and unreliable judiciary, more IC project, revoke citizen of decent citizen who want and fight for a clean and fair election, allow and encourage Ibrahim Ali and the likes to burn holly bibles, may be burning of Church, criminalize those who possess and read bible, computerize and track those who do not agree or dissenting voices and black mark them and deny them all economic opportunities, bla..bla...mamak style.

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written by Yap T W, February 10, 2013 23:20:50

What a load of rubbish. Are you going to say next that the Zionists are helping DAP to win seats in the next election? Your statements are obviously made to please your racist master none other than the devious Mamak.

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written by Li Xiang Lan, February 10, 2013 22:34:47

I can't be bothered to read the trash by this man who sold his soul to the Devil (U-no-hoo) as the Devil's Advisor for monetary gain. In the process he also sold the rights of his own community and relegated the Chinese to 2nd Class citizens. Now he speaks for he knows his BIG Benefactor is in BIG trouble when PR takes over the seat of the Federal Govt. My time will be better spent if I go and get those dishes that have been stacked after CNY dinner, washed and cleaned. Fellow Malaysians, be steadfast to our cause, don't let these baboons influence you in any way. Watch the fireworks when PR is in power. Oh yes, you bet some Mamak's "lord" will comment on my Form 5 "degree" and compared it to another doctorate or some crappy papers of this writer, or he too cannot sleep knowing the Fall of BN is imminent.

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written by Harvey, February 10, 2013 22:18:38

Did TDM ask him to write something so tha it will save the face of the naton traitor.

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written by anakrakyat, February 10, 2013 21:12:07

Do we take this sell out mongrels propganda seriously? He is undremining the Opposition without a word on the Foillies of BN.

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written by East-highlander, February 10, 2013 20:46:42

Here is man who talks about everything he sees around him except for the what the rakyat wants, lapping up his his master's sputum at every opportunity.

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written by MICHAEL ZECHARIAH, February 10, 2013 19:48:28

Hey fellas, Look who is talking. Its Dr.Mahathir's mongrel. What do you all think it is doing? Doing its master a loyal favor. Mathias 'Elvis' Chang. (Check out the Elvis style speactacles its wearing). Unfortunately this mongrel can't sing.

Bringing up children

Posted: 07 Feb 2013 04:45 PM PST

Let's not talk about politics today and instead look into the mind of an innocent toddler and how he perceives religious teachings, which sometimes do not make sense to small minds that can think better than mature minds.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Dad!

Yes, son.

How did I get here?

Err…hmm…why don't you ask your mum? I want to read the papers.

I did and mum said to ask you, dad.

Ah…well…the stork brought you.

Oh. But my Sunday school teacher said we all came from Adam and Eve.

Well…that is also true.

You mean we all came from Adam and Eve?

Yes. Now run along and play. I want to read my papers.

My Sunday school teacher said Adam and Eve were the first two people on earth.

Yes, that's right.

So who married them then?

What do you mean?

Aunty Sara and Uncle Bill got married by the priest. So who married Adam and Eve if they were the only two people on earth?

Err…no one.

So Adam's and Eve's children are all bastards then?

Hoi…where did you learn that word from? You must never use that word.

I heard you saying that, dad.

Me?

Yes, you said that your boss is a bastard. I asked Mike what bastard means and he told me. How do you know that your boss is a bastard like Adam's and Eve's children?

That was merely a figure of speech. I did not mean it literally. Oh never mind. No. Adam's and Eve's children are not bastards even though Adam and Eve never got married by a priest.

Oh, okay.

Now run along son.

But who did Adam's and Eve's children marry?

They married each other, son. You see, there were no other people on earth other than just Adam and Eve and their children.

So does that mean I can marry Kate when we grow up?

No, son, you can't. Kate is your sister.

Oh. But Adam's and Eve's children were also brothers and sisters.

Yes they were. But at that time it was okay for brothers and sisters to get married. Now go outside and play.

We were also told the story of Noah and his yacht.

That's good son. But it was called an ark, not yacht. Now go and play.

Did you know that Noah got all the animals onto the ark before the great flood and he saved all the animals? If not there would be no animals around today.

Yes, I know that, son.

But how did he feed those animals, dad?

I suppose he also had food on the ark, son.

But lions and tigers eat other animals. Won't they eat up all the other animals on the ark?

No they won't, son.

Then how did they stay alive for so long without food if the lions and tigers did not eat up all the other animals?

I don't know, son, but I am sure that Noah had figured all this out before he took all those animals onto the ark.

My Sunday school teacher said that every animal alive today was on that ark.

That is true son.

Even penguins?

Yes, even penguins, son.

But there are no penguins living in the desert, dad. Where did Noah find penguins?

I am sure there were penguins in the desert at that time or maybe Noah found a way to get some from the North Pole.

But penguins live in the South Pole, dad.

Whatever.

Did Noah have a freezer on the ark?

Freezer?

Yes, penguins need the cold. They cannot live in the hot desert.

MARTHA!

Yes, John.

We have to stop sending Tim to Sunday school. I don't think they are teaching him the right things.

Thanks, dad. Can I go outside and play now?

When white is not white

Posted: 06 Feb 2013 08:01 PM PST

So why is white good while black is bad? Why do we say 'we have seen the light' when something good happens to us, such as we have 'seen' God? And why is everything bad associated with black? Black-hearted. Black market. Black death (the plague). Black period in history. Black Friday. Black sheep of the family. Black eye. Black out. Pot calling the kettle black. Black mark. And so on.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I never know how my days are going to start or end. In fact, while I know how my life started, I really do not know how and when it is going to end either. I suppose that is the spice of life. If everything is laid before us in clear and precise details then there is really no more point in continuing, is there?

It is like how I am going to start this article. I am not even sure if I do want to write any article today. I just opened my Microsoft Word and stared at this blank sheet of paper. Of course, it is not really a piece of paper in the physical sense. It is more like an electronic paper. But then is this not where the world is heading -- towards an electronic world?

I have probably four or five bookshelves of books, physical books printed on paper. Since mid-last year, though, I have stopped buying physical books. If I continue buying books I will also have to buy a new house, as there is no longer any room to store all my books. My books from merely two months detention in Kamunting alone are already one van-load.

Anyway, paper-based books are so yesterday. Today we read electronic books and I have already accumulated almost 1,000 electronic books, which I store on my Kindle, of which I have thus far read maybe only 25 or so. Hence I have a long way to go and I was told there are millions of e-books available. So I am going to run out of breath before I run out of books to read.

The same goes for my music. I am constantly 'surrounded' by music, even when I read or write. I start my day quite predictably by booting up my Mac. Then I go to my favourite radio station, Magic 105.4, London's favourite radio station -- or at least that's what the sweet voice of the DJ keeps telling us.

In a way music influences my mood for the day. Sometimes, when I am in an aggressive mood, I want to listen to rock music. When I feel slightly mellow I listen to Magic 105.4. I mainly listen to the rock stations that play 1960s music by Grand Funk, Uriah Heep, Santana, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Iron Butterfly, Jethro Tull, and the 200 or so bands and singers of 'my generation'. And to make sure I get the best in sound, I play them on my Bose speakers and turn my workroom into a disco minus the flashing lights and fog machine.

Anyway, here I am facing a blank sheet of white paper and still not sure what I am going to write about today. Okay, the 'paper' is not quite paper in the dead tree manner of speaking but more like a plain page of my Microsoft Word. Nevertheless, it is still a plain white page.

And why do we call it a plain white page? Well, that is because there is nothing on it. If it were filled with letters, words, numbers, or graphics, then it would no longer be a plain white page. So what does 'plain white' mean then? What do we understand by the phrase 'plain white'?

Plain white means absence -- the absence of letters, words, numbers, graphics, etc. When things are absent then we call it plain white. Hence when there is nothing we call it plain white. Hence, also, plain white is what is meant by nothing.

And white can only be seen when there is light. If there is no light we cannot see white and white would become black.

Hence white is white only because of the presence of light. In the absence of light white will turn to black. If you were put into a pitch-dark room with zero light penetration where you cannot even see your hand in front of your nose and you were given a plain white sheet of paper could you see that white paper? The plain white sheet of paper would become invisible although it exists and you are actually holding it.

Hence white does not exist. White is only what you see when there is light. What exists is black. And light also does not exist. Light is merely the absence of darkness. Hence when darkness is absent then light exists and because light exists then white would also exist, which would not exist otherwise if the darkness does not allow the light in.

White, therefore, is what you see in the absence of darkness. Therefore, also, darkness exists while white does not.

Honestly, black is not ugly. Black is beautiful. So why associate everything bad with black?

Black is beautiful

Anyway, yesterday an insurance agent phoned me and asked for a minute of my time but took 30 minutes instead. This agent wanted to discuss the prospects of me buying life insurance. I am 62 so he suggested I should start thinking of my family's future in the event I suddenly died.

That got my thinking. What if I bought a RM1 million policy so that if anything happened to me my wife would be taken care of? But then, if I were worth RM1 million dead, would that not tempt my wife to bump me off because I would then be worth more dead than alive? And one should never tempt one's wife with such notions.

No, maybe a RM250,000 policy should suffice.

The insurance agent then worked out the cost of the premium and because I sometimes smoked cigars the premium would come to quite a bit (even with the one or two cigars a month that I smoked). It seems the brand and quality of the cigars did not affect the premium at all. Now that is downright unjust.

I asked him how much I would need to pay, say, if I took a 15-year policy -- and over that 15 years I would need to fork out almost RM150,000 in all. What happens if I survived till way past 77? Well, then that RM150,000 would be money down the drain. I get nothing. My wife can only collect RM250,000 if I died before 2027. And I must not die within the first year. I can only die from the second year onwards.

In other words, if I died next year, then will we make a gross profit of RM250,000 on an investment of only RM9,000. If I did not die, then we lose RM150,000. So the profit would be in dying quick and not in living long.

Hmm… you lose when you win and you win when you lose. I told the insurance agent I would need to think about it first. He then told me they can insure me until age 90 and that there would be a very good chance I will die before I am 90 as most people in England never live past 90.

Ah, yes, but this insurance agent has probably never heard of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Anyway, I if I take a 28-year policy that expires at age 90 and I still do not die till past 90 I would have to blow about RM250,000 or so on a RM250,000 insurance policy.

This was starting to become even more unattractive. Anyway, I decided instead to allow fate to decide what happens and jumped into my car to drive to Liverpool to join my friends for a jam session and to pick up my new (second-hand) drum set.

The problem, now, though, is that I do not feel like writing anything today because I can't wait to whack my drums to Santana playing in the background.

Sigh…why is life so complicated? Well, never mind, maybe I can go drumming and write my article tomorrow instead. At least today you do not need to read any cheong hei article from me.

My 'new' second-hand drum set

The jam session in Liverpool last night

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Ahad, 24 Februari 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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