The Happening Hayaki Cafe @ 11ish PM
Corner of Jalan Kebun Sultan and Jalan Dusun Raja, in Chinatown.
Kuala Terengganu, Snapshots
Sunset at Hotel Seri Malaysia overlooking the Terengganu River. Kristal Mosque on Pulau Duyong is on the far left background. Those ‘toothpicks’ are silhouettes its minarets.
Trishaws by the Central Market at the waterfront, in front of Bukit Puteri and next to Dataran Shah Bandar.
Retro artsy shot, I just liked the colours and the glittering blinds.
Passengers onboard a ferry at the jetty just by Central Market.
Random basin with mirror in the middle of nowhere in Chinatown.
Mahfuz Omar: UMNO guru biadap dan derhaka pada raja
In the latest issue of Harakah, in response to the current Karpal Singh ‘biadap’ controversy, Mahfuz Omar, the PAS information chief, reminded us that UMNO was the main culprit behind the erosion of the monarchy’s powers, from their powers in passing laws to the abolishment of the immunity from criminal prosecution.
I can’t find the article online in HarakahDaily.Net, so here are some excerpts from the print edition:
Apabilan Dr Mahathir Mohamad mengambil alih tampuk pemerintahan pada 1981, antara tindakan awal beliau ialah melucutkan kuasa raja dalam meluluskan undang dalam masa 30 hari. Krisis perlembagaan yang berlaku pada 1984 ini telah menyebabkan raja-raja tidak lagi mempunyai apa-apa kuasa. Mungkin Dr Mahathir ada sebab untuk memudahkan pentadbiran beliau kerana semenjak 1960-an lagi Dr Mahathir tidak mahu orang Melayu menjadi ‘Red Indian’ yang berlindung di sebalik hak-hak istimewa.
Kemuncak krisis dengan raja-raja ini tercetus pada 1992 apabila berlaku krisis di Istana Johor ekoran tindakan putera Johor, Tunku Majid menampar seorang jurulatih hoki. Dr Mahathir mengambil kesempatan ini untuk melucutkan imuniti raja-raja. Sejak itu, raja-raja boleh didakwa di mahkamah jika melakukan jenayah. Dalam satu aspek, tindakan ini mungkin baik, tetapi dalam sudut yang lain ia telah menghilangkan ketuanan Raja-Raja Melayu. Semua rakyat tidak suka rajanya zalim dan raja yang adil itulah yang disembah. Tetapi perbuata melucutkan imuniti raja-raja telah menjadikan raja-raja kehilangan ketuanan.
[…]
Dahulu pemimpin UMNO membela raja-raja kerana ingin mempertahankan periuk nasi mereka yang dicampakkan pasir oleh British. Kini pemimpin UMNO cuba mempergunakan isu kedaulatan Raja-Raja Melayu setelah periuk nasi mereka ditelingkupkan oleh rakyat sendiri!!
Harakah — 16-31 Mei, 2008
Lots more. Erm, go and get a copy?
PAS Poster Boy, Husam Musa, also suggested the media focus on issues that affects the rakyat like the economy and the food crisis.
Friday Evening in KB
Ha ha. I feel like I’m in a suburb of KL - SS2 in PJ but less congested and more affordable food and drink.
I spent the late afternoon checking out KB Mall (pic below), located at the junction of Jalan Hamzah and Jalan Sultan Ibrahim. Well, if the economy is down, the Kelantanese are certainly not feeling it. People were shopping not just browsing like in some of the very modern, chic but very empty malls of KL like the Curve, Bangsar Village 2 and the Gardens. For feel good entertainment, on the top floor, there is a bowling alley and kiddies’ games arcades, where you can even take those cutie photo stickers in kiosks. It’s quite Sungei Wang-ish with less sleaze and more bargains. And guess what? They have the latest PS2 and Nintendo game gears! That box thingy…So COOOOOOLLLLLL. I will buy one later.
Then I hopped off to Chinatown, Jalan Kebun Sultan, on the East of the old town.
This state seat N9. Kota Lama, has been held by Anuar Tan, since 1999. He is also a state exco member, in charge of Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Community Unity. A couple of 12-feet posters of him, very Stalin-style too, decks the walls of his service centre. According to Lim Guan Eng as reported by The Star, Tan was formerly a Gerakan man. Well, these Gerakan fellas seem to be the most flexible of the lot.
I had some satays, 5 for RM2, at the Kebun Sultan food court (pic below). Yums. The kacang sauce was so fresh, you could taste the nutty flavours and crunch on chunky bits that’s rarely found in the diluted sauces in most of KL. To wash it down, I had the ever-cleansing and affordable iced barley for RM1.
Now, I am in another wi fi kopitiam, Hayaki Cafe, at the corner of Jalan Kebun Sultan and Jalan Dusun Raja, adjacent to Star Family Hoteland just opposite Kenny Inn. Nice happy mixed crowd here. Some kiddies on laptops, three white women also surfing the net on a laptop and women in tudungs too. Most were just eating and having REAL LIFE interaction, vs Internet addiction. Life is good on a Friday night in KB. I think I need to get over tudung, baju kurung = medieval. 
Such an eye-opening experience so far.
Actually, the crowd is even more happening now but I’ve already taken this photo!
A yum yum mango dessert, which I tot was a bit too sweet and the mangoes not ripe enough. RM3.50. And in the background on the right, my soursop ice blended for RM2.50.
Overall, I’ve had a pleasant stay so far with some interesting happenings at my ‘retro’ hotel. I wonder what other ‘action’ is in store for tonight.
Ke Ke Ke Ke.
Mukhriz: May 13, a blessing
Malaysiakini reported on May 13 that Mukhriz Mahathir, the wannabe politician son of Dr M, said May 13 is a blessing.
I quote the article:
Mukhriz Mahathir (BN-Jerlun) said there was no attempt to hide the facts behind the May 13 incident. He said the tragedy should be seen as a “blessing”.
He was referring to New Economic Policy, an affirmative action policy which favoured the bumiputera, that was introduced as a result of the May 13 incident.
“So the good that came out from such tragedy has been something that we have enjoyed even until now,” argued Mukhriz.
Is he ok? Is it ok to kill innocent people for power, in the name of some greater social cause? By the way, was his daddy in the same ‘gang’ as Razak and Harun? What a shameful statement but to be expected from callous UMNO politicians who only care about Malay supremacy. Do you blame me for calling them a bunch of Nazis?
Related:
The Massacre of ‘69
May 13: UMNO should apologise to the Chinese
Khalwat Hot Spot?
The ‘warning’ on my room wall. OOOOOoooooooooOOOOOoooooo….
Ke ke ke. Blur2 Jed Yoong has stumbled and checked into a khalwat hot spot in KB, it seemed.
At about 4am this morning, I heard someone knocking my neighbours door, saying, “Hello, hello.”
This went on for a few minutes when curiosity got the best of me and I opened the door.
I saw four men and one woman, in a headscarf, all Malay, who are probably in their late teens or early 20s. I asked them who they were. A big burly guy holding a small notebook, that religious department people usually carried, claimed they were from the religious department and on an “operasi”, pointing to the room next door.
A scrawny boy wearing a baseball cap in a black t-shirt and a pair of blue baggy jeans hanging on his butt kept knocking the door, saying hello but no response from the room, if anyone was even inside.
Nope, these guys didn’t look like they were from the religious department at all but those teenage tyrants during Mao’s time who prosecuted their parents during the Cultural Revolution. But these Kelantanese versions were more docile and polite.
I closed my door and half-hoped that they would break in if my neighbour, if there was one, didn’t answer. Alas, they didn’t but went away.
Earlier, when I returned to the hotel at about 6ish, I spotted two religious department people going down the stairs, holding their notebook.
Blur2 Jed Yoong had checked into a KB Khalwat Hot Spot?
Ke ke ke ke ke ke ke ke ke.
PS. I also cleaned the toilet for the hotel. It’s not that hard, some VIM and metal scourer.
Examining identity in a foreign locale
It’s Friday afternoon in Kota Bahru. Most shops are closed, I presume for Friday prayers. I am sitting at Oriental Cafe (pic, will do food review later) opposite Crystal Lodge (don’t know the road name, turn left on the main roundabout from Kubang Kerian and it’s around the corner…). Earlier, the cafe, which serves halal food, was packed with customers from a range of demographics but mostly Chinese, enjoying a leisurely Friday lunch. Well, I guess it’s Friday, on other days, the clientale is mixed — older working crowd on their tea breaks and young ones in the evenings.
In the few days that I’ve been in Kota Bahru, I discovered that I naturally spoke Mandarin with the Chinese. It was so strange. I also felt more comfortable and secure around them. It’s as if I am powerless in this pre-set social structure that I’ve no choice but to conform and play the game of us vs them. The age old story of the haves vs the have nots, the tuans vs the hambas. But then it’s all in my racist mind ‘cos the KB-ians seem to be carrying on fine. And quite naturally, the Chinese “protected” and “defended” me against the Malays on some occassions.
Maybe it’s my overactive imagination but in KB, I get an idea what KL must have been like in the late 60s. Businesses totally controlled by the Chinese and Malays working for taukehs and probably the Chinese can be very arrogant and menghina Melayu as some do. And I can imagine the scenes of the Chinese-dominated Opposition parties rubbing salt into the Malays’ wounds. I guess, it must have pissed them off. But in civilised society, governed by rule of law, it’s criminal to kill someone for making fun of you. If they provoke you physically via a small nudge, then you can retaliate. But just words, you have to fight the war of words or just let it roll….
Over here in KB, I also begin to understand a bit more of the Chinese identity in Malaysia. It’s a cocoon and a safe haven in a strange land and perhaps among a hostile people. Like me, I somehow feel safer with yellow skins in this foreign land, yes Kelantan is quite foreign. Just like how in London, I was glad to see a Malaysian. Here I am glad to see a Chinese, which explains why I’m staying in a dodgy hotel ‘cos it’s owned by a Chinese. I am also speaking more Mandarin. Ha ha ha.
But I realise it’s my racist mindset, in how I group or identify people these days after returning to Malaysia five years ago, that colours my interpretation of events. I suspect many KBians dun read so much into this race thing. But I must remind people that I am not racist in the sense that I judge people based on their skin colour or culture but merely as identifiers. As a Christian, from young, I’ve been taught that everyone is a child of God and hence, able to achieve whatever they want if they asked from God and believe. But this “programming” of the “power of living God” must first be embedded in their minds.
Yesterday, I drove past a Chinese primary school just as school was over. I saw parents taking their children home, others walking with their friends, presumably home, on a hot afternoon. It made me re-think my abolish vernacular schools stance. Yet, at the end of the day, I still believe that education should be homogeneous for the sake of national unity. Schools should use English as the medium of instruction, Malay made a compulsory language and another language too made compulsory, whether Arabic, Chinese, Tamil, French, etc. Vernacular education should be allowed, as a fundamental freedom, but privatised as most is anyway. Currently, many non-Malays shun national schools because of Islamisation and low standards. I don’t blame them. At least with a Chinese education, you may get to further your studies in Taiwan or Beijing and find a job there. Here, top scholars are still being denied scholarships. It’s something that has not changed.
Fascinating KB. Much more to find out.
Kota Bahru, feels like Ipoh, kinda
Hmmmmmm. It’s a strange city with a good mix of different races except for Indians, whom I’ve hardly spotted even at newstands.
KB is more vibrant that Ipoh and KT for sure. It may not be as happening as Penang in terms of the nightlife and entertainment scene but the city is not bad. It has lots of Wifi cafes, which seems to be a big thing. I’ve spotted a 24-hour cafe and the one that I’m at now is my favourite so far. Culturally, there is much to see and I’ve not done the touristy thing yet — the War Museum, the Museum, the Palace, the Mosque are look grand. The Mosque in particular stands out from the fashion now for Persian/Morrocan mosques. It is more indigenous — smaller domes, almost in a traditional Malay house style, just bigger and with more engravings.
As a non-Muslim, I don’t feel oppressed at all. I feel quite free so far. Everyone has been very helpful. The thing that I find about MOST, not all, Kelantanese are they are generally very helpful and friendly. That’s important especially when you want to attract tourists. From my observation of life here, everyone seems to be happy enjoying themselves. I can get alcohol from Chinese kopitiams or others but I don’t drink so it’s not a problem.
As a woman, somehow I feel safer here. Maybe it’s my blur2 attitude but the mood is good.
There is still much to explore and am just settling in. And chilling out for a bit.
May hop to Perhentian next week, avoid the weekend crowd. That may be bestest. My sis and bro coming up to visit. See how it goes.
I am just surprised that Kota Bahru is so Chinese and so erm, un-Islamic in my touristy experience so far.
AS: Malaysia’s LingamGate
Jed Yoong
15 May 2008
Abdullah Badawi tries to figure out what to do with a Royal Commission’s controversial white paper alleging judicial abuse
A royal commission appointed to investigate Malaysia’s judicial system has concluded that the country’s courts have been subject to widespread fixing of judicial appointments that corrupted decisions at the behest of ranking politicians.
The report has not been released and, given its political sensitivity – involving, for instance, allegations of judicial abuses by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad – it is posing serious problems for the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the United Malays National Organisation. Although the document has been submitted to Malaysia’s king, the cabinet will decide whether it will be released to the public, Zaid Ibrahim, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department overlooking legal affairs told reporters.
However, the report appears to confirm what has been widely reported so far on b logs and in the press — and that is that the court system was almost entirely in the thrall of politicians with close ties to businessmen. The commission was appointed last year after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim made public an eight-minute segment of a 2002 videotape showing the well-connected lawyer VK Lingam in conversation with Ahmad Fairuz, then the country’s third-ranking judge. The release of the videotape played a major role in energizing opposition to the ruling Barisan Nasional, the ruling national coalition of ethnic parties, in elections earlier this year that wiped out the coalition’s historic two-thirds majority and resulted in its biggest defeat since independence.
Continue reading @ AsiaSentinel.Com
So colourless….
Politics is not lecturing at a university. So politicians should erm, be more colourful, ideally. One particularly one is putting me to bed with his dull, no doubt erm, packed with salient points, maiden speech in parliament. He is just SO BORING. But he has his fans and groupies. Most importantly he kicked out the incumbent MP with a huge majority. …. Give me Kinabatangan sometimes, just for the amusement. And definitely Fong Po Kuan….The DAP Whiz Kid is like watching Bloomberg to me, DULLLLLLLLLLL, shoot me, better.
