We're all cracked pots...

or shall we say, with some imperfections.

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always
delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the House, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it's own imperfection. And miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to
deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw. So I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them."

"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house?"

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life

So Cheras continues with its Grand Saga...

From KTemoc Konsiders:

Friday, May 09, 2008
Police tear gas-ed Cheras residents - enabled barriers to be erected by toll company
Malaysiakini reported in its article Police fire tear gas at Cheras residents that 500 of those infuriated Cheras residents attempted to dismantle with their own hands a new concrete barrier which the toll company, Grand Saga, has once again erected across a toll-free road near their township.

First brilliantly using water cannons to hose down the residents before escalating their tactics to the equally brilliant employment of tear gas, the police valiantly dispersed the angry rakyat, achieving this courageous task victoriously by about midnight. I was so impressed by the police actions that I was moved to tears. No doubt their intrepid effort has been highly appreciated by the grateful toll company, Grand Saga.

The victory over the rakyat then enabled Grand Saga workers to return under magnificent heavy police presence to build a far more permanent barrier than the earlier concrete blocks which were removed by residents.

No sirree, nothing must stand between the toll company and toll fees, thus the Grand Saga barrier erected on State land must stand between the rakyat and free legal access to the road. Ini Malaysia Boleh!

Malaysiakini reported that the fantastic men in blue, dragged away from their terrific jobs of fighting crimes to fight the rakyat, kept outraged residents at bay as the Grand Saga company workers dug trenches across the toll-free road to frustrate the rakyats' access.

This may f* explain why the f* crime rates have f* shot through the f* ceiling - yes, those bloody Cheras rakyat have to be responsible for denying the entire nation of what could have been otherwise a totally crime free country.

The Grand Saga's erection of the barrier happened despite the Pakatan Rakyat State government confirming with the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (Jupem) that the land where the barrier is being built is the property of the State government who thus has complete jurisdiction over the road. In other words, the Grand Saga company has no business to be erecting barricades there to force the residents to not only use the toll road but to travel at extra 6 kilometres to have the privilege of paying up the fees, adding a travelling insult to the injury of toll fees.

Yes, enjoy the scenic views of Cheras more!

But the barriers are up again, it's done, phew for their toll cash registers, and thanks to the wonderful men in blue.


... which is ample demonstration of their new slogan 'Integriti Amalan Kita' (Integrity is our practice).

And it also upholds the RMP's new motto of 'Mesra, Cepat dan Betul' (Friendly, Quick and Correct), unlike its previous 'Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah' (Clean, Proficient and Trustworthy).

Hey, if you don't believe the Police lives up to 'Mesra, Cepat dan Betul', just ask Grand Saga!

DAP state executive councillor Ronnie Liu was aghast not so much at Grand Saga, but more at the police for not taking a neutral stand. Mana boleh, he might have asked. Ronnie, ini Malaysia Boleh mah!

Liu said the RMP should not be seen as acting on behalf of Grand Saga and the federal government. Aiyah Liu, why not? It's nothing new.

But he did advise the residents not to go feral in response to the Grand Saga ..... hmmm, good advice for the reasons as just demonstrated, the toll company is likely to have police support with their water cannons and tear gas and even ... oooooo ... guns and jails.

He also wonder why (and I can tell him why) Jupem hasn’t yet released the survey report which was supposed to be released last week, Liu is upset with Jupem, who kaytee believes, if contacted will not make any comment or that its director, if at all possible to contact, will be making any comment either.

I wonder Jupem is managed by which Ministry? Maybe we could ask the Grand Yang BerSa..hormat?

What happened to Raja Petra fans

when he remains incommunicado... well, almost like coffee withdrawal.

Lament of, and appeal from, a hero's wife

From Malaysia Today:
MARINA LEE : IS PARLIAMENT STILL RELEVANT?
Posted by Erin
Wednesday, 07 May 2008
"... when freedom of speech is being brutally subverted by the present regime and false charges can be instituted against anyone who dares to demand for justice and truth."

As a wife and mother, I want to know from my fellow citizens whether a government that has incarcerated my husband in the Sungai Buloh prison on trumped up charges and brought untold suffering on my family, especially when one of my daughters is sitting for her final examinations, is a legitimate government.

No wife, mother or child should to go through this horrible experience when all her beloved husband did was to uphold justice and truth.

On 2nd May 2008, the Armed Might of the regime was unleashed on my family when they came to my house in search of evidence for some alleged crime that my husband was supposed to have committed.

I thought that this can only happen in a Gestapo state but not in my beloved Malaysia. You be the judge of this.

The police came in the morning and desecrated the sanctity of my home for the fourth time. The fact that this had occurred previously does not make it any easier for my daughter and me. I wish that such nightmares can be forgotten, but let me tell you, especially mothers and wives, that the pain will never go away and that it is only our family's self esteem and strength and our faith in god that has enabled us to withstand and overcome the trauma and pain that we have suffered together.

I pray that no mother and wife will have to suffer and experience what I had with my beloved husband and my family.

Before we had time to recover our composure, the police handed us a summons to appear before the CCID the following day. However, at 3.15pm, we received a call to appear at 4.00pm on the same day.

My suspicions for this sudden change in the time for my husband to be interrogated was to prevent publicity and the exposure of their dastardly deeds.

Can anyone of you imagine what I, as a wife and mother, had to go through emotionally and psychologically when accompanying my husband to be interrogated by the police when on a previous occasion in 2000, he was brutally assaulted in my presence?

I could not express my anxiety to my husband on the way to the CCID, as I know that my strength and resoluteness would be critical to enable my husband to face his interrogators. He must have also felt the same for me and so both of us, thinking alike kept our silence. But we were determined to see this through together hell or high water.

The Petras’ are not some tofus!! We have enough strength and dignity to overcome such adversity. My daughter suffered in silence and despite her age, she held up magnificently and no mother can be more proud than I to have such a daughter.

As we approached the CCID, tears welled in my eyes, but they were not tears of fear, sadness or trepidation, but the expression of my determination and faith that my husband’s struggle will ensure a better future for my daughter and the children of a better Malaysia.

I am proud to say that my husband overcame the intrigues and schemes and came out unscathed. But we knew that this was a mere prelude to more brutality that will be inflicted on my family.

The events of yesterday’s circus are known to all.

But what was most telling was the deafening silence of the judiciary and the bar council which supposedly are the guardians of justice and equality.

The dinner that was orchestrated by Pak Lah, his law minister and other cronies that allegedly ushered “a new era” for an independent and fearless judiciary in upholding justice and human rights, makes me wonder if such an institution that was promised was a fantasy in the light of my experience.

Today, my daughter and I went to the Sungai Buloh prison to visit my husband but we were told that he had no wish to see anyone, not even any member of the family or lawyers. I was shocked and disturbed by this turn of events as it can only mean that my husband is determined to endure the pain of incarceration and humiliation of being subjected to and treated like a common criminal for upholding the freedom of speech and justice.

Being married to him for 35 years, I know only too well that he is capable of making sacrifices for truth, justice and freedom. I suspect that when I was told that he did not want to see me, that he would be taking the ultimate step – to go on a hunger strike to demonstrate his determination to uphold the cause of truth and justice.

I have nothing more to say, as I am thoroughly exhausted by the turn of events and can only hope and pray that my fellow citizens, especially wives and mothers out there, that you would all come together to protest and to demand for my beloved husband's freedom and that you will call upon your member of parliament to boycott parliament as a gesture of support for my husband’s struggle.

His struggle must not be in vain. We as a family will see this through but we will only be able to cope if we know that good and god fearing people like you will be there and standing together with us shoulder to shoulder to strike a fatal blow against tyranny and for justice and truth and for my husband’s freedom.

Marina Lee

Raja Blog

Regardless of who started blogging first in Malaysia, Raja Petra is widely acknowledged as the king of all bloggers here. He treaded where no one dared by touching on sensitive subjects like race, religion, rulers and so on, using clear and concise descriptions and interesting examples, much to our reading pleasure while enlightening us on certain myths perpetuated by BN for their continuing control.

In fact, to be fair to him, he did not take sides and opposition parties are just as vulnerable to his unrelenting criticisms whenever necessary. It so happened that BN must have been grossly unfair for him to support the opposition to prevent a government that can change laws at their whims and fancy. He is one of the greatest influences in our political landscape, yet he is not a member of any political party which in a way, made him more credible in his opinions.

The internet is still free from controls, with the exceptions of being subject to Sedition Act and civil suits for slander, and being hacked and having system and files destroyed.

To us, or at least for me, he is our hero with the following image:

To those members of the public who do not know him, he may look like a criminal being taken away by our PRDM:

Out of our sight but not out of our mind:

Photos are copied from Zorro unmasked, without his permission but with my thanks.