As Suanie Sees It

I meant to update my blog today with photos to dupe you into believing that I have a most happening and active social life, but that will have to wait because…

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Policemen beat a retreat

KUALA LUMPUR: A police beat base located in the Chow Kit area of downtown Kuala Lumpur has been shut down because the “presence of criminals could make it unsafe” for police officers.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the beat base was located in a dirty area where police faced the possibility of being exposed to contagious diseases.

The presence of criminals also posed a threat to the safety of police officers. [...]

Read the rest of the article at The Star
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I almost choked on my Nescafe ais kurang manis when I read that. But I don’t have time to really elaborate on that, because it’s befuddling, ridiculous and I have other things to do, such as playing Pirates on Facebook work. So here are a few notes:

1. HIV is not air-borne. You do not get HIV by touching or hugging someone with HIV. You cannot get HIV by sharing the same household items or swim in the same pool with someone with HIV. Unless the cops are paranoid that some of the criminals that they are so afraid of rush towards them and forcefully inject them with HIV positive blood, then they should not have to be afraid of anything.

2. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) means sexually transmitted disease. Unless the cops in question contribute to the unspoken thriving economy of Lorong Haji Taib, they should have nothing to worry about. Unless they are paranoid that some of the criminals that they are so afraid of have STDs and rush towards them and forcefully rape them.

3. Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar should go back to school, and/or discuss it with the City Chief Police Officer Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Sabtu Osman before babbling about contagious diseases.

I honestly do not give a shit about Avril Lavigne. She bores me. Her songs bore me. Her lyrics bore me. Her antics bore me. Her clothing line bores the shit out of me. I also don’t really care if she wants to perform in Kuala Lumpur or Timbuktu because you can’t pay me to go watch her live. I’d rather stay at home and annoy the heck out of Ryan while listening to his mom dish out advise about life, the universe and everything.

(I wait for the day she would spout out ‘42′)

But the whole hoo-ha about her concert’s on, not on, on, not on is beginning to bug me. When it starts appearing on PerezHilton or TMZ, it’s a sign that moderate-thinking Malaysians are groaning, ‘not again’. The last time we made international news on a positive note (I think) was the alcohol-loving treeshrew who doesn’t get drunk. Everything else has been so far damn fucking embarrassing. Of course you could argue that there’s nothing worth reporting if there’s nothing negative happening. That’s not true. Ever heard of ‘no news is good news’?

I read that Shafie claims the whole cancellation was because of our Merdeka celebrations. From my very personal point of view, he’s not wrong in doing so. Unless Avril Lavigne is willing to make an appearance before Siti Nurhaliza at our Merdeka Day concert and belt out a couple while screaming, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALAYSIA, I LOVE KUALA LUMPUR”, then she really ought to think about postponing her concert here. To the organisers, what the fuck were you thinking? You are a Malaysian company right? Haven’t you lived in Malaysia long enough to understand how things work/ are bound to work? Don’t you know that our government officials are very touchy and sensitive about things like ‘nationalism’, ‘national day’, ‘unsuitable elements for Merdeka’, ‘white supremacy’, ‘gyrating hips’, ‘hak istimewa Melayu’, ‘Tun Dr Mahathir’, ‘Rosmah’ among others? Really, we should take away your IC. Go balik Tong San while you are at it.

So, postpone lah your concert. See if I care. But if Shafie doesn’t give you permission to hold it AFTER the Merdeka celebrations, then by all means go to the press. You’ll have all the rights in the world to complain about it till the cows come home. When that happens, I’ll… uhm… I don’t know, blog about it again?

As for the objections that Avril Lavigne is too sexy to be performing in Malaysia, please, get a grip. Are you fucking kidding me? ‘Avril Lavigne’ and ’sexy’ should never be used in the same sentence, ever. Stephen Gately dressed in fur and feather is sexier than Avril Lavigne. Betty White hobbling down the street is sexier than Avril Lavigne. The Niagara Falls is sexier than Avril Lavigne. A popsicle is sexier than Avril Lavigne. Ryan wrapped in orange cloth is sexier than Avril Lavigne.

Ohai, I am sexier than Avril Lavigne, kthxbai

Sekian, terima kasih.

And so is everyone else ’slamming’ the current Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim’s suggestion that UiTM be opened up to non-bumiputeras.

Not that I personally know a lot of non-bumis clamouring to be admitted to UiTM. Entrance to local universities (who do not practise that much of racial discrimination) is not that hard to get, if one would put in a little effort that is. Otherwise, there are loans and scholarships (particularly the FaMa scholarship) abundant in private institutions for those who wish to further their tertiary education.

Plus I don’t know why Khalid Ibrahim is even talking about UiTM. There are other more urgent and important things for him to focus on, no?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t wake up every morning wishing for non-bumis to be able to study at the university. Sorry for priorities.

But since he has bothered to raise the subject, it is inevitable for us to read about the reactions to his suggestion. Then reactions to the reactions, and reactions to the reactions to the reactions. At the end of the day, nothing will change, everything will remain the same. Khalid Ibrahim will move on to something else; hopefully something more pressing than this. Come the new semester, a new compulsory subject will be introduced to those at UiTM so they may study various voice structures, hand gestures and body language to make “CINA BALIK TONG SAN, INDIA BALIK INDIA” sound more menacing.

I have no doubt that UiTM produces (a few) excellent graduates. Some of my friends and colleagues received their degrees from the university, and thankfully they do not share the same sentiments as the current PPIM project director, the UiTM vice-chancellor and the 5,000 UiTM students who staged a demonstration in front of the state secretariat building.

That’s why we are friends and can get along beautifully. A common unifying factor is that we are able to see past race and skin colour to maintain our friendships, as well as to get the job done.

I didn’t learn that from studying at UiTM. They skipped the racial discrimination lectures.

But let’s get back to the article. I don’t need to emphasize that I am friends with people of all races to make my point. I am sure that it’s very tiring (for EVERYONE) to have to start off by explaining, “I am not a racist, I am good friends with Ali, Ah Leong and Muthu…”

Sheesh, get over yourselves.

‘No need to open up UiTM to other races’

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM) is the last bastion for Malay and bumiputra students to further their studies and there is no need to open it up to other races, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) said.

In a response to the proposal by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for UiTM to open up 10% of its intake to other races, PPIM said the move would be seen as challenging the special rights of the Malays.

PPIM project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said the government and its leaders had to be tougher in defending such issues because although the country was multiracial, there was “no need to sideline Malay special rights.”

“If something like this is allowed to happen, then there will be a worrying situation where many Malay institutions will crumble and be ‘Malaysia-nised’.

“It is hoped that the exclusiveness of UiTM is not undermined by anyone and it be allowed to continue as an institution that will strengthen the Malays,” he said in a statement.

You can read the full article here at The Star Online.

1) Bastion? BASTION?! Fueling the on-going, unspoken but understood senseless racial war?
2) Keep your special Malay rights AND continue to lose the REAL war that is the survival of the fittest
3) Since when is bumiputera solely Malay?
4) When UTAR was launched, you buggers bitched so loudly that it’s a racist institution. Spot the irony.
5) What are you hoping to strengthen the Malays with that you cannot do with one or two non-Malays in the classroom?
6) Being Malaysia-nised is not derogatory. I guarantee you that it will produce not just better Malays, but better MALAYSIANS.

But no one ever listens to me.

So Maxis sent me a booklet filled with discount vouchers for things such as hotel rooms, mobile phone accessories, clothes, food, spa.. those type of things. Normally I discard these things as I can’t afford RM1630 for a 4D/3N stay at Club Med (not including club membership fees), even if getting there and back is free. Well, that was just an example taken from the booklet lah.

But my dearest Pinky just informed me that she will have a week off in late August, as part of her transition to a new job. As she thinks that I am a rather awesome person, she wants to spend that week in KL/PJ with me. She also suggested a trip to Penang, as she has never been there and would like to go try their most wonderful and delicious local fare. After all, appreciation for good food is just one of the two traits we Malaysians share with Singaporeans; the other being giddy with happiness at securing a good (usually shopping-related) bargain.

I remembered the Maxis discount booklet, and something about cheaper rates for a hotel room in Penang. Turns out that the voucher is for the Parkroyal Hotel in Penang. The offer states that you can ‘get a 50% discount on accommodation and receive a complimentary upgrade to the next room category’. Sounds rather awesome, right? I’ve stayed at that very hotel before, and it was a really nice experience.

So I checked out the website, and the rate for a ‘Deluxe Twin-Bedded Seafacing Room’ costs RM420 per night. Fantabulous! Upon confirming the dates and rates with Pinky, I called the hotel to book our room.

“RM 450++ a night AFTER discount.”
“Huh but the rates stated on your website is RM 420.”
“Oh, those are website rates. Already on promotion.”

1. I know that rates on websites are always slightly cheaper. But by a full half price?
2. *Already on promotion* did not appear anywhere on the site
3. I am more stunned than angry.

So maybe it’s just me. But I still feel a bit cheated. And friend told me that I should blog about it, so here it is.

Read this off BBC:

Tackling Qingdao’s invading algae

[...]
Locals say the algae has never been so thick here - agricultural and industrial pollution are thought to be responsible.

But China, embarrassed by the most vivid proof yet of its environmental problems, says the algae is a natural occurrence, and blames the sea for being too salty, the sun for being too hot.

At a news conference earlier in the day one official suggested that algae could be good for you.

“The Japanese eat it,” she said.

[...] Click here to read more

If one day every Malaysian minister gets the can, I’m sure China will welcome them with open arms. Excellent work experience, after all.