Caught on tape but RTM is not releasing it. Anyone recorded the parliament session where Bung Mokhtar Radin was alleged to have shown the ‘palm hitting a clenched fist’ gesture? If I had it, I will make a deal with one of the online papers.
It should be worth some money. Maybe I can buy a packet of nasi lemak or something.
If you are so innocent and have no idea what the ‘palm hitting a clenched fist’ is, just take a look at the video below. Finding this video as an example was easy. In fact, this video featuring present/former(?) MB Pahang Adnan Yaakob immediately came into my mind.
Well, I could be wrong though since the video isn’t aired yet (if ever). I mean, I can’t think of any other ways a ‘palm hitting a clenched fist’ that looks obscene.
He denies doing the ‘palm hitting a clenched fist’ but instead said he was just “hitting his palm on the back of his other hand”. I wonder what that gesture is supposed to mean. Maybe he’s trying to be a trend-setter. Let’s see if this gesture catches on in the streets.
I was over at a client’s place for a couple of hours yesterday. After two cups of hot mocha, lunch and some actual work done, I headed back to my office. When I was about to exit the PLUS Sungai Besi toll plaza, something rather strange happened.
Firstly, I noticed two policemen on their oversized motorbikes waiting beside the (blood sucking) toll booth. I quickly looked down to make sure I was wearing my seatbelt. It isn’t like I do not wear my seatbelt when I am driving. I just wanted to be 100% positive that I was wearing it. I was exhausted and didn’t want to have a coffee break chat with them.
I was having a good laugh at how one of their supposedly white police uniform was actually bluish-purplish white. It looks as if it was oversaturated in Photoshop or something. I have seen quite a few shirts like that back in my primary school years. I guess that’s why my mother always tells us not to mix white and colored clothing when washing.
Anyway, as I was paying for my toll ticket, I started hearing a loud siren behind me. I looked into the rear view mirror and saw a car with flashing lights behind me. It was either a police car or a black Proton Perdana (my memory is failing me right now). I started to panic and thought of what I needed to do next. My instant reaction was to get the hell out of the way for whoever was behind me but then I realized that I was at a toll booth. There is no place for me to squeeze into.
It was only less than 5 seconds later that I got my change and receipt from the toll booth attendant but it felt much longer than that. I snatched the coins from her hand and at the same time tried not to drop them. In that situation, opening the car door just to pick up a few cents is totally out of the question, although the price of petrol has risen sharply lately and the cost of some items has risen.
I stopped the car at the side of the road at the far left to have a better look at what was going on. It took me more or less 10 seconds to reach the side of the road — I had to cross 4 to 5 lanes before reaching there while making sure that I do not get hit by other vehicles. When I arrived there safely, I was still able to see the Proton Perdana passing by me. I couldn’t see exactly who was in the car but they were all dressed in suit and all — official VVIP looking.
Then all of a sudden, all the dots seem to connect and I realized why I was feeling strange earlier on. Why on earth were they using the manual cash lane booth? One of the purposes of having police escort is to allow the VVIPs to zig-zag across the traffic without stopping. I am sure if they have allocations for a police escort, they would be able to afford a Smart Tag device. At the very least, they should be using a Touch ‘N Go card.
CASH?!
Now thinking back, I should have come out from the car to ask for an autograph before driving off. Who knows, MB Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim could have been in the car. Or maybe the PM? Deputy PM maybe?
Wait…Anwar Ibrahim!
Side note:
Why on earth is our parliamentarian cycling on a girl’s bicycle? Siap ada bakul lagi. Photo courtesy of Malaysiakini.
There are better ways to experience the real hardship the average Malaysian goes through in their daily lives. However, I feel that cycling isn’t one of them. Just how many people actually cycle? Try going to work with any public transport. Use the bus, LRT, KTM, etc. Make it a “surprise visit” thing. If the operators know before hand, it’ll be just a plain “cow-dang experiment”.
If taking motorized vehicles is too “grand”, try walking.
A skyscraper flash ad at The Star’s website caught my attention. I can’t believe my eyes. What I saw looked like a dolphin humping advertisement. I do not believe one of our local dailies dares to serve such suggestive sexual content in their website. Just click on any one of their articles and you can see the banner ad on the left.
There is a note that says “Mouse over to feed” at the top of the dolphins. I couldn’t contain my laughter when I saw what happened next.
A threesome!!!
There is a horizontal banner of the same advertisement on the front page of The Star’s website. It looks like all this humping ad misunderstanding was just an advertisement by Malaysia Airlines (MAS). A one way ticket to Brisbane is selling from RM149 only.
I have always wondered why some promotions offer a one way ticket only. Don’t people need to come back? How much would the return ticket cost? Double the original ticket? Sorry lah but I am not a frequent traveler.
Come to think of it, who would want to return if Brisbane is offering such a wonderful humping session Dolphin Safari experience?
On a more serious note, the person who came up with the design/idea of the advertisement should have been more careful. The message they are trying to send may be easily misunderstood.
Or is it only me?
Note: The animated gif was created using Gickr.com.
Question:
Where is the hottest spot in town on the eve of 5th June 2008 in Malaysia?
Answer:
Every single petrol station in the country. Thanks to the announcement made by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that the price of petrol will increase 78 cents to RM2.70 at midnight.
Shortly after lunch today, I received a phone call from a close acquaintance alerting me that petrol price will be increased by as much as 50 cents starting midnight. I brushed aside the claim thinking that there is no way the government would increase it by that much. I recalled the previous time when the price of petrol was increased by 30 cents, people took it to the streets demonstrating on all. Therefore, 50 cents would be absurd.
I received an SMS a few hours later by the same person telling me that the price increase might not materialize after all only to hear my colleagues getting all excited about some “increase” moments later. I heard something about “70 cents”.
Fearing the worst, I immediately hop over to the Malaysiakini website and saw the headline — Fuel hike: 78 sen more to RM2.70 per litre. Right at the same time, both TheStar and NST’s website was crawling. I guess it must have been due to the announcement. At that very moment, many in the country must have been talking about the price hike.
I am sure this will have a huge impact on many people. Those who travel a lot in their vehicle will definitely feel a pinch a blow to the face. The price of food will increase as a direct result of the price hike. Gone are the days where one of my favorite food — roti canai — used to cost only 50 cents a piece. Nowadays, they are selling it for RM1 each.
So, what does this 78 cents petrol price hike mean to me? Apparently, not much. Well, at least not directly since I do not own a car. However, my expenses will definitely balloon if the price of food increases. So I guess everyone who eats will fill the pinch. Hell. I’m sure you have heard others complaining, “petrol price increase, rice price increase, toll price increase, only salary no increase”.
If that’s not enough, they are even raising the electric tariffs. Damn it! I hope my landlady won’t raise my rent since the electricity and water bill is included in the rent.
In the same Malaysiakini article, the Pee-M mentioned that the government plans to offer rebates to vehicle owners as a means to offset the petrol price increase. If (and that is a BIG IF) this “scheme” materializes, vehicles below 2000cc will enjoy an annual RM625 rebate while motorcycles up to 250cc will receive an annual RM150 rebate.
Below are some calculations (correct me if I’m wrong — it’s been some time):
An annual rebate of RM625 will only be worth RM52 per month.
70 liters of petrol at RM2.70/liter = RM189.00 (new price)
70 liters of petrol at RM1.92/liter = RM134.40 (old price)
Difference in price = RM54.60
Therefore, in order to fully “enjoy” the rebate-form-subsidy, you must not consume more than 70 liters of petrol per month. We have not even taken into consideration the increase of food items.
How much is 70 liters of fuel? 2 full tanks for a Viva-Kelisa type? I really have no idea.
Points to remember are that, firstly, this scheme is just a PLAN. It may or may not materialize. Secondly, the price of petrol will be adjusted monthly based on the market price because the government will only subsidize 30 cents (niamah so little) of the market price. Everyone better pray that it doesn’t or else we may see an increase to that RM2.70/liter mark again. Thirdly, the price could increase to between RM3 to 4 in August.
To be fair, the government cannot continue to subsidize the price of petrol forever. Can they? Therefore, reducing the subsidy can help the government save billions of ringgit, which is good (I guess). The fund that is supposed to be used to subsidize the price of petrol can then be channeled to other areas that benefit the people like building better transportation system, better/free healthcare, abolish the damn tolls, better education, better everything lah, simple.
What is the government planning to use those funds for? Public transportation is horrible, tolls are here to stay, education can never be free, healthcare will never be free… Ask them to be more transparent, they are not willing to. *sigh*
I am sure many have seen the above YouTube video circulating before the 12th General Elections. The question is what “stage” are you in now?
Where have you been?
Why aren’t you updating your blog?
Go and update your blog lah.
Those are some of the remarks thrown to me from the people around me for the past few weeks. I am back from my break for over two months now. Unfortunately, my blog is left deserted and untouched (except for some comment monitoring) ever since.
Some of the reasons for my absence include:
I was lazy.
My addiction towards mapling resurfaced. I put the blame on both my younger siblings for this.
Blogging about some of the current issues like the just ended General Elections might alert my own “internal-ISA department” to restrict my blog content.
I do miss blogging, I really do. Instead of listening to the voice at the back of my head speaking to myself like a madman, I get to voice it out, or at least pen/type it down.
The Malaysia’s 12th General Elections did produce some shocking results. Even before the dust of the previous “tsunami” has settled, a new storm seems to be brewing. I don’t want to talk much about it so I’ll just link a few articles below.
Caught on tape but RTM is not releasing it. Anyone recorded the parliament session where Bung Mokhtar Radin was alleged to have shown the ‘palm hitting a clenched fist’ gesture? If I had it, I will make a deal with one of the online papers.
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