Categories
Photography Society

[674] Of time’s eating Kuala Lumpur alive

On the same day I digitized the Jamek Mosque, I took quite a number of photographs in and around Kuala Lumpur . This is a row of deteriorating, badly damaged shophouses in the capital. Specifically, around the Dang Wangi light rail transit station. In spite of the building appearance, surprisingly, it hasn’t been abandoned.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

It’s a disheartening feeling to see buildings that once characterized Malayan cities falling into disrepair, eaten by time relentlessly. Compare all this to Singaporean shophouses. What a difference it is.

To be fair, there are other better preserved buildings of similar type here in the capital but I wish there were more. Malaysians certainly could learn a thing or two from our friends down south.

When I wanted to get shots of the structure for my collection, at first, I was a bit apprehensive to approach it. The place rather secluded; you’ll never know when a prick’s going to come up to you and ask for your wallet. Nevertheless, in the end, my curiosity got the better of me. And nothing unsavory happened.

About the photo, I had to ticker with it so that the colors are more defined. The original is rather bland; too bland to be of any interest. I feel my photo don’t do justice to my subject. While I was there, I was awed at the sight. There was something grand and sad about it. And the original failed to capture that feeling. Even the edited version doesn’t properly convey the message across.

Categories
History & heritage Society

[669] Of Stanczyk by Jan Matejko

I’ve been in love with Jan Matejko’s Stanczyk for several months now. I first came across it on Wikipedia possibly last year and I can’t seem to shake it out of my head at the moment.

Public domain.

The painting doesn’t look too special at first glance. Indeed, if wasn’t for the story behind the painting, I wouldn’t chance a second look.

The person on sitting the chair is Stanczyk, a Polish court jester. He, according to Wikipedia, “is the only person at a royal ball to become worried after the news that the city of Smolensk was captured by the Russians reaches the court.

I don’t know about you but that’s the wow factor for me – it definately captures human’s foolishness and life’s irony.

Any parallel to Malaysia? I hope not.

Categories
Environment Politics & government Society

[667] Of gobble, gobble, gobble and gobble

Aww. But Google doesn’t have a doodle for today. =(

And no turkey. =(

Bah. Who needs turkey when you have nasi lemak and roti canai

p/s – whoa. Just saw on local TV that Indonesia is planning a military exercise near Ambalat . Reuters has more:

Jakarta plans exercise near sea disputed by Malaysia
24 Nov 2005 04:08:44 GMT
Source: Reuters

JAKARTA, Nov 24 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s navy will hold its biggest ever exercise next month, involving landing amphibious tanks near potentially oil-rich waters disputed with Malaysia, a navy spokesman said on Thursday.

This news breaks a day after the US lifts military embargo against the country, as I’d mentioned earlier.

Is Indonesia trying to tell Malaysia something? Hinting too hard maybe?

pp/s – should be interesting to know what the local media has to say tomorrow about this. Right now, Malaysian administration has no moral right to criticize the US on Abu Ghraib incident.

Anyway, a good by-election ammo for PAS. Might even be a silver bullet.

ppp/s – Ha. Ha. Ha! (via)

Categories
Humor Politics & government Society

[665] Of so much hate

A few days ago, I noticed one of sixthseal.com’s posts, which is full of extremely disturbing comments. It’s awfully hard to maintain my composure after passing through it even at fastest possible speed. What started out as a complaint against the author of the blog ends up with racists people scouring all over for a chance to abuse free speech.

I don’t really quite comprehend on how the issue is being turned into racist’s capital. Why couldn’t people just say fuck you instead of fuck Malay or any other race for that matter. Why must race come into the convoluted and irrational equation in the first place?

Perhaps, it’s merely trolls. Or perhaps, there really are people out there that prefer a racist to a liberal society – looking for every chance to undo so much that has been done.

I guess, so much for a Malaysian dream.

p/s – BN Kelantan dug its own grave. After much demand of dissolution, offer of resignation, counter-demand and counter-offer between BN and PAS on Kelantan state assembly, deputy chairman of the Election Commission speaks out in Utusan today that if anybody resigns, such person will be barred from running for office for the next five years, as stated in EC rules. The Prime Minister, from BN himself, echoes the EC deputy chairman’s words.

This is sure to embarrass BN and particularly UMNO Kelantan while putting a stop to all these silly demands.

pp/s – does this mean Flying Spaghetti Monster is to be taught as a mythology too?

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Creationism and intelligent design are going to be studied at the University of Kansas, but not in the way advocated by opponents of the theory of evolution.

A course being offered next semester by the university religious studies department is titled “Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies.”

Ouch.

Categories
Humor Politics & government Society

[657] Of 10 ways for PAS to secure Pengkalan Pasir

As mentioned before, I’m placing my money on UMNO to win the December 6 Pengkalan Pasir by-election. However, here’s a list of 10 ways to force odd to favor PAS. In the list:

#10. Bribe UMNO candidate. Doubt it will work? Hey, Isa Samad hasn’t been dragged to court of law yet despite his proven corruption. Instead, he’s been merely admonished by UMNO disciplinary board and suspended for a few years. Proof that most people in UMNO, even those in the high up, doesn’t mind corruption. What about Badawi’s anti-corruption drive you say? Hell, we have – given the situation, had – a tak nak rokok campaign but the Dewan Rakyat mocks it by promising players in the cigarette industry greater reward. What? Bribery is sinful you PAS people say? I somehow remember a logging concession in Kelantan. Or was it Terengganu?

#9. Send in thugs to convince voters to pick PAS. Tell all those people, tick the moon or we’ll break your bones. Of course, no bone will break and snap. It’s all merely intimidation. Macam tak biasa pulak.

#8. Declare, or rather re-declare a fatwa that implores that a vote for PAS is a ticket to heaven and a vote for UMNO is a ticket to somewhere too hot to handle. I still sometimes wonder how the hell does this work but hey, you’ll never know what makes a rightist nut ticks.

#7. Assert that Nik Aziz is more religious than Badawi and assert that Islam PAS is Islam while Islam Hadhari is bs. (caveat emptor – if the word u-turn sounds familiar, don’t attempt this. I repeat, do not attempt this.)

#6. Invite Ibrahim Ali into PAS and let him run as PAS candidate. Ibrahim Ali dreams of a chance to screw UMNO. So, given that PAS hardcores will be voting for whoever that sucks up on PAS, Ibrahim Ali’s vote will at least bring in extra precious numbers, particularly some of former UMNO’s votes. UMNO would be furious if this happen, I tell you.

#5. Or better yet, invite Mawi into PAS and let him run as PAS candidate. With Mawi, I’m sure PAS will secure all female voters’ vote. People has been talking about the Mawi factor as an asset. Hell, a good political entity would internalize that asset. Add that with PAS wackos, UMNO will be caught with defeat and disbelief.

#4. Say Buck the Fuckeyes! Well, they might not get enough votes but if I could vote in Pengkalan Pasir, I’d goddamn vote for them if they say out loud Buck the Fuckeyes. Anybody that wanna kick Buckeyes’ nut is my friend.

#3. Actually do something with the state economy and maybe even clean up that state capital of trash a bit. Declaring the state capital as an Islamic city won’t do a jack. Given how Kota Bahru looks (I haven’t been to KB for perhaps 11 years but doubt there is any change, except the name for Pantai Cinta Berahi…), it makes people smirk at the hilarity and indirectly insult Islam.

#2. Pray to god and do nothing.

And number one is, drumroll please….

#1. Pack up and leave for Pattani. PAS won’t get Pengkalan Pasir but at least they’ll win in Pattani.

Frankly however, my skepticism for PAS and my previous statement of I-don’t-care-who-will-win notwithstanding, I hope PAS will win. A PAS win may indicate that there’s some hope for a stronger opposition in the next general election. Malaysia desperately needs more dissenting voices in the Dewan Rakyat to undo the rubberstamping trend in the Parliament.

p/s – Wow. I didn’t know a Malaysian was nominated for Nobel Prize for literature. (via)