Merdeka 曖昧

Baru je bangun, Acai called, tanya kalau nak sarapan. Kita minum kat somewhere in Kelana Jaya. Nampaknya Acai sebenarnya cuma diperintah somebody untuk bawakan I ke sini.

Tepat pukul 10, CheguBard dah muncul. Nampaknya Bard nak kita revampkan sket website Gerakan Korupsi dan Anti-Demokratik Gerakan Demokrasi dan Anti-Korupsi (Gerak), sebuah NGO anti-rasuah yang diketuai Ezam, yang juga merupakan Ketua Angkatan Muda pusat.

So Ezam, Bard dan I dah adakan sket brainstorming, cuba fikirkan apakah yang kita perlukan untuk memeriahkan lagi website Gerak. Sebenarnya kandungan dah hampir mencukupi, design pon okay jugak, mungkin buleh kita kemaskan sket kot. Selepas meninjau ke web Aliran, PenangWatch, Keadilan Penang dan sebagainya, kita putuskan apakah yang Gerak perlukan ialah satu Content Management System (CMS) Joomla.

Okay, so, kita nak installkan Joomla. Tapi server sucks, cuba upload fail-fail Joomla ke dalam server beberapa kali, sumernya stuck halfway sebab disconnection. Maybe next time baru kita install kot.

Watch out!

Pada petang 23 Jun 2005, Faisal Mustaffa a.k.a. Acai, Ketua Biro Antarabangsa Angkatan Muda Keadilan Pusat, telefon aku, tanya kalau nak minum. Aku okay je. Tapi jejaka nie sampai pukul 3 lebih pun tak muncul. So aku baca buku sampai tertido kat sofa. Tetiba, aku tertengar orang honk, dan mommy bagitau, “Eh, saper tu yang letak kerete depan umah kita?” Owh, nampaknya Acai dah sampai, tengah merokok lagi kat luar pagar kita nie. Cemarkan udara PJ.

Faisal pakai sebiji kerete pacuan 4 roda yang macho. Entahlah saper punya, Amir Sari penyelaras IKD ke kengkawan diorang kot. Acai kata keretenyer masuk bengkel. Instead of pi minum kopi, Acai sebenarnya akan ambik gambaq dalam pertemuan di antara YB Karpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor) dan Datuk Seri Anwar kat umah Karpal nanti, so kita kenalah carikan di manakah umah Karpal dulu.

Kita tiba di Pusat Bandar Damansara (Jabatan Imigresen & HELP Institute), tapi dah buat beberapa bulatan baru dapat cari masuk jalan ke sebelah sana Damansara Heights. Pada suatu ketika, semasa mendaki bukit di Jalan Semantan dekat Bangunan Shell, tetiba kerete kehilangan power. Nampaknya Acai yang tak biasa dengan kerete yang boleh dikawal dengan kedua-dua gear manual dan automatik nie tertekan sesuatu secara silap, dan daripada gear auto kita tetiba jadi gear 1 yang manual pulak. So beliau started kan enjin sekali lagik, dan kita terus mendaki bukit.

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Copyright: Vincent Law’s Photoblog

I love flags, always, all kinds of flags. Apart from our Jalur Gemilang, I love flags of British Columbia, Republic of China (even that I prefer DPP), Kelantan, Penang, Canada, the Hong Kong flag prior to its falling into the illegimate Communist terrorist regime, as well as our Keadilan and Pas flags. Seeing flags flying high boils my blood, be it on top of houses, or in the case of opposition flags, on top of trees, more so in a strong wind.

I haven’t really blogged about Rennie’s Mill (Tiu Keng Leng) before. It was a special settlement created by Hong Kong government for Nationalist (Kuomintang) soldiers and supporters after they lost the Chinese civil war in 1949 and escaped to Hong Kong, in order to avoid Communist reprecussion.

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This is the sequal of my Da Vinci entry, albeit going astray. I wished to discussed Leonardo Da Vinci, Monalisa, or maybe San Greal, Priory of Sion, Opus Dei and Catholicism, yet, the focus turned to piracy.

When I was accused by Eliar Shiftfire for spreading pirated copies of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, I have made myself clear in reply, that e-books are just for sneak preview. For those who cherish the author’s effort, please go and buy.

Afterwords, fellow blogger David The Katana dropped by with his comments.
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My dad just called me. Among others, he has visited my blog, albeit just a short while.

He was busy as usual, had little to go through my entries. Some more, mixing up with writings of Farish Noor and the likes, he was confused if I was so capable of writing such masterpieces, hahaha. (To minimise confusion, all third party articles syndicated here have been moved to the Superb Stories menu…)

Instead of commenting on my entries, he chose to show his dissatisfaction regarding my design. Yes, especially the party logo, which he is very uncomfortable with. According to him,

“You should not position yourself as such…”

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Thanks for still remembering this day. I am so happy to get this greetings from you, meimei dear.

Oh yeah, you get to see how I look like, which is rare in this blog. The pic was taken outside a kopitiam in Jalan Telawi, the row where our Policy Research Institute (IKD) is located. That’s before Faisal Mustaffa and I went to shoot pictures of Anwar meeting DAP Chairman Karpal Singh at latter’s home in Jalan Buloh Perindu, on the afternoon of June 29th, 2005.

Still listening to the Tak Ingin Sendiri you sang for me. I must say it’s much more fantastic than Hetty Koes Endang’s version. Can I have more ?

Tagged by Rajan Seri yesterday, and Bob today, so I have no choice but to… Sorry I dissappointed you because there’s no bahasa rojak.

1985 : 20 Years Ago

My first trip to Bangkok and Pattaya. No such thing as Skytrain, MRT or elevated highway yet. The same Donmuang airport, the same rose garden and floating market. Innocent me didn’t know what was Patpong or Pattaya famous for, yet. Should have visited some gigantic Buddhist temples too, but can’t remember. You see, selective amnesia is common among political keensters.

Can’t really remember much of 1985. Don’t ask for too much from a kid. But one thing I am very sure of. Thank to my sensitive nose, have been visiting countless doctors. Emigrated from Bukit Mertajam to KL, we lived near Pusat Tarbiyyah Taman Melewar back then.

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In a dinner in Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam on Sunday night together with my significant other, fellow blogger Nik Nazmi and his significant other Imaan, Faisal Mustaffa and his significant other Azizah the e-commerce lectuerer, we have met Datin Seri Dr. Wan Azizah, who was also invited.

I mentioned to her that some months ago, someone told me Azizah was quite unhappy because I emailed her, asking her about some party stuff. This fler told me, that Azizah was furious because she had no idea where did this Shin come from and how could my email land in her inbox from middle of nowhere.

“Party got hierarki one. Everyone must follow protochol maa…”

Owh, agaknya…

But when Azizah was asked about this, she was quick to clarify,

“No no no, it’s so untrue. Why should I…. See, it’s email, so we do get bunches of emails even from those we don’t know. Don’t worry “

Thank you Azizah. I know you aren’t like what they describe. But we are kind enough not to go after those who tried to trap us. Moral of the story, we forgive, but we don’t forget.

Hmm, how often do you receive an e-card ? Seems like it isn’t the coolest thing anymore, unlike in the late 90s when we get bunch of them everytime we check our mail. The providers are still there, such as Blue Mountain or 123greetings, but the ooomph is nowhere to be found anymore. Perhaps it’s all the way down hill since Bluemountain started charging…

Thus, I am romantically suprised when I received one in my mailbox the other day. Yes, you are right, handmade ones are much better than the ready-made cards. I really appreciate it, your effort and your kind words. No, I am not angry for you being emotional when you were under stress. Dah biasa dah !

Owh yeah, you can send those pics in our very own KeadilanRakyat.org’s picture gallery as postcards to your friends too…

Thursday is the seventh day of seventh month in lunar calender, and it is 七夕, one of the two traditional Valentine’s Days. The other being the 15th day of first month.

I’ve just called her. She sounded much more nicer than days ago, when she’s so fierce. Hope she can maintain her cool forever and ever… Fat hope, huh ? Hmm…

Do you know the love story of the orphaned cowherd and weaving girl that lived on two different planets who were only allowed to meet each other once per annum ? For those who are uninitiated, there are a few pages where you might find out more : satu, dua, wiki

My heart melt when I read through this entry in Lyn my meimei dear’s blog… How cruel the rain can do onto an 11-year-old girl ?

Yeah, it’s not so much for the fame, but for the sake of having the whole school be acknowledged of your big day !

It’s Lyn’s forever 17 birthday.

It’s also the day my sayang left for Kuala Lumpur, after a lovely 9 day stay in Temasek.

I am not in KL currently therefore I lacks the geographical advantage to present Lyn a great little birthday gift in person.

I am still in the mist of getting a new Sim card for my mobile phone so texting Lyn to say happy birthday was out of question.

And I think e-cards are lame.

As bloggers, we should do it the blogger’s way. As a pembangkang, we should do it the “pembangkang with attitude” ’s way.

Nothing much can come from me as I don’t even own much myself. However, I just wish to top up Lyn’s wishlist with two wishes from me :

1. Work less, eat more, play more, shop more, sleep more. Stay in the pink of your health.
2. Rush your creativity and secure the 50k RM from CIP !

Last but not least, shincerest birthday greetingz from dearest gege and dasao. May God bless you with a nutritious and refreshing year ahead !

One day trip to airport, followed by shopping in Orchard and swimming in Holland Village.

In the tunnel between Expo and Changi airport, on the way back to Tanah Merah in order to get back to town. Shopping time coming, yeay ! Looks tired eh, where’s her dear sayang ?

A Hongkie family opposite us. Owh yeah, national days are coming. 9th for Kiasuland, 17th for Indomeeland and 31st for Bolehland. Time to fly our flag !

Fort Canning Park, Temasek…

Who else can ever match her charm ?

送你一個香甜的粽子，
以芬芳的祝福為葉，
以寬厚的包容為米，
以溫柔的叮嚀做餡，
再用友情的絲綢纏繞，
原你品嘗出人生的美好。
端午節快樂!

當你正在不斷尋找幸福時，
你將錯過許多就在身邊的幸福；
幸福未必是遙不可及的，
可能只要隨手一握，
就能將他輕易握住。

Hari Isnin 25 April 2005, Shin pi lepak ngan cik mek molek bernama Nore. Bukan first time ajak, tapi for the first time, last minute Nore tak leh kuar, sebab stuck kat umah saudara. Dah banyak kali Shin tanya Nore nak pi maner. Nore pun blur. Actually maner2 pun samer kan. So Shin bilang minumlah dulu dekat mamak kat Telawi then pi tengok (sekadar tengok, bukan baca) buku kat Silverfishbooks.

Shin mintak Nore tunggu kat platform dalam stesen LRT KL Sentral. Nak beli tiket KTM Intercity ke Temasek dulu. Bila Shin approaching sana, Shin sms kat Nore… Bila sampai kat platform, sorang je awek yang duk kat saner. Tudung hijau, kurung hijau, senyum ceria, potongan langsing dan wajah lawa. Itulah dia Nore, poster girl Taman Melewar.

Dalam perjalanan dari Bangsar LRT ke Telawi, kitorang hinggap kat Dataran Maybank. Ade orang nak beli Cosmopolitan bulan April eventhough yang March pun belom abis, hehe. Normally I pangkah salah satu daripada 3 mamak yang ade. Dave’s Corner, Al-Syed atau Lotus. Tanya Nore nak pi yang maner, blur lagi. Tapi keputusan kali ini penting. Apa pasal penting nanti korang kan tau.

Al-Syed tak terpilih sebab ia jauh sket dari Silverfish. Dave’s Corner pulak penuh sesak orang. So Lotuslah yang jadi pilihan. Di sinilah pertemuan blogger-blogger telah diadakan pada 11 Julai tahun lepas, di mana Budu, Menj, Suresh, Habri, Noor Amin dan yours truly telah hadir…

Nore memang seorang yang bestari serta sporting. Sebagai pelajar English Literature, Nore sentiasa membaca pelbagai jenis buku dan website. Oleh itu apa saja topik yang cungkilkan, banyaklah citer yang buleh sasterawan agung masa depan nie bagitau.

Tambahan pulak Nore baru hadiri sebuah seminar kat UIA di mana Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri dan Executive Director Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Negara, Mustapa Mohamed telah berucap. So Nore pun berkongsi dengan aku pelbagai jenis maklumat terkini tentang ekonomi negara seperti sektor manakah yang akan menjadi pendorong ekonomi dalam masa akan datang dan apakah perancangan yang akan dilaksanakan dalam Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9).

Nore jugak tidak kurang fasih dalam politik sejagat, daripada Tengku Azlan (MP Jerantut), Chia Kwang Chye, Taib Mahmud, Endon Mahmud sehingga Paul Wolfowitz. Merunut Nore, Tengku Azlan nie… , hehe, sehingga semua kontraktor kelas F di Jerantut pun berpaling tadah. Taib Mahmud yang banyak memiliki hartanah di Amerika Utara pernah jemput Endon tinggal di bunglownya di California apabila Endon yang berbarah payudara pi berubat. Chia Kwang Chye pulak merupakan pemidato yang paling teruk kat dunia sampai kesemua peserta seminar beliau akan tertidur…

Dah tiga jam duk kat Lotus. Nasi goreng yang Nore ordered tu tak kuasa nak abiskan. Air ais pulak tiga gelas dah bedal. Kononnya kedai tu kedai ك ل ي غ oleh itu makanannya susah nak telan. Hmm… I wonder.

Lepastu Nore pi semayang. Around 4. Agaknya agar Zohor dan Asar buleh skali, haha. Tapi ade orang malas nak pi masjid walaupun tepi Bangsar Village shopping center je. So Nore cuba nasibnya kat Bangsar Village. Tak nampak sign surau. Jadi pi tanya jiejie kat information counter…

Nore : Excuse me, may I know where is the surau ?

Jiejie : I’m sorry,we dont have surau here…

Kan lah I dah kate, kat sini Bangsar, Bangsar people don’t pray. Hehehe. Kenalah pi masjid. Sampai kat masjid pun banyak perkara lucu yang berlaku. Since Nore dah pun rakam kat blog beliau, baiklah korang baca kat entry tu je… Nore yang pity Shin kena tunggu tu pula berbaik hati sangat dan pinjamkan Shin baca Cosmopolitan yang baru beli tadi tu.

Abis semayang kitorang pun muncul kat Silverfishbooks. Sini memang tempat yang paling Shin minati. Banyaknyer buku yang jarang dapat kat luar. Saleh ben Joned ade, Catherine Lim ade, Pramodya Ananta Toer ade, Noam Chomsky ade, Farish Noor yang Taman Melewar ingat menghina Islam pon ade. In short, macam-macam ade. Bagi Shin, memanglah sini lepak, enjoy air-con, tengok buku, tapi kalau nak beli memang tak pernah. Yang pernah beli pun vcd 6horts yang merangkumi 6 short video Amir Muhamad je. Tapi Nore tak sama. Sasterawan masa depan ini membeli nineteen, iaitu a collection of stories by women from Malaysia, Singapore and beyond. Hmm… Sebenarnya Shin pun minat baca, cuma tak cekal, slalu baca sampai halfway je.

Dinner was Burger King. Nampaknya Nore cukup gembira dapat beli buku citer baru. Shin pulak yang rasanya sedih sket sebab entahlah bila lagi buleh lepak ngan Nore skali lagi. Hopefully janganlah biarkan Shin tunggu lama sangat. Thanks Nore, feel so happy dapat lepak ngan kau

Haziq, my friend in ktmrailwayfan, has just concluded a trip to Endau Rompin park not long ago, with his buddies in Siling Secondary School (SLSS), Marsiling. You can take a look at the photo collection in the album.

Endau Rompin is one of the rare lowland rainforest in the world. It is close to the sea on the downstream of rivers. Heard that there are quite a number of crocodiles there in the park. I wish to be there one day. But obviously these kinda places you better go in a group. And you will need an Orang Asli guide too.

One photo that needs to be featured is this. According to Haziq, he kinda has a crush on the long-hair girl who is in black tee on the left. How do you find her ? She’s making Haziq getting very excited every night I suppose…

Hmm… Can you recognise which is Haziq ? You can find him in this picture. Hey, Haziq’s crush is featured prominently in this picture too !

All the best to your second relationship in a year, Haziq !

On 23rd April 2005, my dad and I was in Cameron Highland. Having exhausted other places of interest such Sungai Palas and Habu tea plantations as well as Robinson and Parit Waterfalls, we thought of exploring a new place, Gunung Brinchang.

Gunung Brinchang is the highest point in Cameron Highlands, 2032 meters above sea level, and also the highest point in Peninsular Malaysia which is accessable by road. But obviously, we didn’t realise all these then.

I found this road when we were on our way to Sungai Palas tea plantation, which was featured in Boh Tea’s TV ads few years back. Before reaching it, there’s this signboard at a junction, saying turn left to “Stesen Mikro Gunung Brinchang”. No clues on what kind of stesen mikro is it though, whether it is a space shuttle launchpad or satellite station.

Sungai Palas road, on the other hand, branches out from the main Tanah Rata - Brinchang - Tringkap - Kuala Terla - Kampung Raja road after Kea Farm and Equatorial. It’s a slopy narrow road on the left, with no proper signboards except one that says Boh Tea’s Oomph Tea Shop and another that says SJK (T) Sungai Palas are located inside. It’s a narrow one-lane road.

Occassionally, there are some western style bunglows situated by the road, some complete with national and state flags flying high. Belonged to some rich and famous perhaps. Finally, we have reach the Stesen Mikro signboard where our xpdc would begin.

Less than 50 meter from the junction, there’s another, without any signboard this time. We were already in the middle of tea plantation. Following instinct, we chose the road on the left, as there’s electric cables by the side of that road, makes it seemed to be a more major one. The distance sign on the roadside says it’s 5km to Gunung Brinchang.

Tea trees are seen on both sides. As it is single lane, it is a bit difficult when there’s a car coming from the front going opposite direction. But you can always find somewhere with a wider space, a bend perhaps, for the other car to cross.

Flowers are big and colorful. Not that we don’t have the same species in KL, but over here in Cameron Highlands they are much more bigger, thanks to the weather here perhaps. Over the far end, peaks of other mountains in the Banjaran Titiwangsa (Main Range) are all covered by thick clouds.

Perhaps 2 kilometers into the road, the plantation and occassional tea plantation workers’ quarters are replaced by thick tropical forest. Road is steep, and the well-surfaced road ends. It’s still surfaced, just that hasn’t been resurfaced for perhaps decades. The gradient is especially challenging for a Proton Wira 1.5 automatic.

After another kilometer of sharp bends and slopes in the wilderness, it started to rain. Thought it was not very heavy, we thought it would be better safe than sorry so we made a U-turn. Better stay in the hotel rather than having stuck in the jungle if lightning strikes a tree and the fallen trunk blocks our way down, especially in this place where you catch no mobile phone reception.

That’s the closest we have got to the highest point accessable by car in Peninsular Malaysia, 2 km away from it. It’s a wonderful experience not to be missed by anyone. When I googled about it just now, I found that a lot of people have been there. Many jogged up through the jungle trek from Tanah Rata, which ascends from the back of Oly Apartment, that takes only 2 to 3 hours. The stesen mikro is actually an RTM TV transmitter. I have also realised that the temperature on the peak can be as cold as 5′C !

Dudes from Mara polytechnic have an extensive gallery photos taken in Gunung Brinchang. Information can also be obtained in the Cameronhighlands website. When I told Budu about this, he showed great interest in going too. As I believe a lot of you have been there, why not share your adventure stories with us ?