How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Saturday, April 17, 2010

A Friday visit to Royal town of Kuala Kangsar

We chanced upon a well prepared reception for Friday prayers in Kuala Kangsar, attended by His Royal Highness, Sultan of Perak.

We were with two relatives from KL on a visit and about to show them the Royal Gallery and the Museum but they were about to close for Friday prayers. But we noticed policemen at every roundabout and junctions on duty while awaiting the arrival of the Sultan. We were at a roundabout when the Royal motorcade arrived. Yes, it was the Sultan in his Bentley arriving, preceded by police outriders and cars, followed by some VIPs' cars and police cars.

Well, Friday lunchtime is normally extended to 2.45 pm, so we went to the next place on our itinerary, which is Ayer Kala to have fresh water fish for lunch! Shaun expressed feigned surprise, 'We came all this way just to have lunch?' Well, the Chinese are noted for that. There is also the common advice for anyone new to a place, looking for decent food: go to where there are many people... the food is likely to be good. But we have been to this place a few times, so we knew our way.

On our way back, we went through the town of Lenggong, hometown of former MCA President, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting. For the information of those uninformed about Chinese surnames, his 'Ong' which is spelt the same as mine, is different in Chinese. Similarly, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat's 'Ong' is also different from his and mine! But, if not mistaken, YB Senator Heng Seai Kie's 'Heng' is likely to be Teochew for that of my surname! I was told this by my late father, but I have yet to check this out before I post this! Incidentally, one of our house purchasers, Ms Ong, happens to be OKT's sister's daughter but her Ong is the same as mine! In other words, her mother with a surname Ong, married another Ong, but in fact, they were of different surnames in Chinese. Confused?

We came out of the town to join the highway, looking for the Archaelogical Museum which houses the famous 'Perak Man', the oldest relic of a man in this part of the world. The fact that he had scoliosis often makes us wonder about this medical condition.

The museum is located in the middle of some oil palm estates, away from the highway and the towns and villages. It has all the audio visual equipment and the necessary maintenance and security personnel, but obviously under visited. When we arrived, there was a flurry of activities of opening the doors and switching on the internal air-conditioning. That there was a lack of visitors would be an under-statement. It is educational yet for some reasons, there is insufficient publicity and initiatives to ensure visits by more students from out of town, though I have noticed two schools listed as coming on certain dates.

Kuala Kangsar was again the next stop to complete the original intent of the tour. But our expectation of a nice cup of coffee and cheesecake at the kopitiam was substituted with tea and no cheesecake because of power failure!

The journey back was in the midst of a heavy thunderstorm where visibility was greatly reduced. My wife's claim that it takes only '20 minutes' from BB Sri Klebang to Kuala Kangsar has never been further from the truth!

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