We would never be.... wouldn't we?

Glorious weekend? It's definitely not a glorious weekend for Malaysian, but for some of them, it was.

It was the end of the Commonwealth Game (CG) in Melbourne, Aussie, which Aussie as the host, as usual became the king of CG. I watched the closing ceremony which, if I was there, it would become an unforgettable moment for me. The fireworks were everywhere, not only in the stadium but also the whole melbourne city. That was something. The fireworks show was truly sophisticated, it may have been computerized, otherwise it couldn't be synchronized in such a way.

I was upset as none of the rhythmic gymnasts were able to gain a gold medal. Durratun, which I think is flexible and graceful enough, was always shadowed by Alexandra Michel Orlando of Canada. She has monopolized all the gold for the rhythmic gymnastic events. Durratun has done well enough but still Alex was far way better than her.

I would say, it was a glorious weekend for the badminton team. They're back in Malaysia with 4 golds. 2 were from the lawn bowl and another one was from the weightlifting contestant for 56 kg category, Mohd Faisal Baharom. KUdos to all of them. Next is in India.

Well, Malaysia could only claim itself as the best CG host. Melbourne wasn't only doing much better, they even ranked first in the festival. I wonder why Malaysia has always over rated itself. Come on! In this context also, we are no better than themlah!

Why was that? It's very rare that we became in any kind of sport. Nicol, the world 1st ranked squasy player were all by herself. Where's the backup? Is there any significant female squasy player like her in Malaysia? Badminton? China and Indon are far better than us. Sepaktakraw? I have no idea. We used to have major names like Mokhtar Dahari for Soccer, Adnan Saidin for Sepak Takraw, Rabuan Pit for atheletics, Sidek Brothers for Badminton, Nurul Huda Abdullah for Swimming and so many more!

One of the reason was that sports was over politicized. Rules like if you're not belong to an authorized sports association, you would never be allowed to participate in the competition should have not been there. This is killing us! Everyone should be given the same opportunity to take part in any sports even. Individuals, clubs and volunteery association should be allowed to organize their own event. Selection for team players should be opened to everyone. Not like the current way they are doing now, the selection invitation is limited; for those only was known to them.

Wrong! This is wrong! Any kind of selection must have been publicized widely. The media like the newspapers should work together to help our country to develop more and more athletes for the country. Recent effort, like what was done by Shabby for bulding up the MyTEAM for soccer must be complimented at most! See how many people were there to take part as they know, there's no such thing as open selection for them to be picked up to represent the country. Pathetic.

We would never be able to compete with the other countries, wouldn't we?

We all have heard that the government and the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) had voiced out their dissatisfaction towards the recent price decrease upon the introduction of the new National Automotive Policy (NAP). Najib said the price would have been decreasing a lot more, as it now is yet to satisfy the actual goal of the NAP itself. It is clear that the local carmakers were still keen on making profits rather than to have a bigger volume on sales.

Can you imagine, Perodua Kancil's price was just reduced by RM3xx as they said that it was still affordable. WTF? The govt. has reduced a lot of duties and tax, including the parts. Kancil's price should be at the price of maybe 4-5k only actually. But why they would never be able to do that? Because Kancil is Daihatsu's model. Remember? Perodua have to pay the royalty, tax, duties and so on. Now, even MyVI is a model of Toyota, which the model was Passo.

In the UK, Proton Wira's price was just 8-9k pound sterlings. Do not convert the money because the Brits were paid in pound sterlings too. Can you imagine how cheap are the cars in the UK? A small model of Fiat was just 5k++.

Malaysia was once like that. My father bought his Fiat 131 Supermirafiori at the price of $14k, back in the 1980. BMW was just $18k. Damn cheap if we can get that price nowadays.

We would never be like that, wouldn't we?

With the recent SPM result, a lot of good students with good results were produced. It has also resulted a much more limited placing for these good students to pursuit their studies, especially in the local universities. But we all know that it's the policy of the government to tabulate the marks so that the result can be more manipulative.

I would suggest that if we could, we would like to have a fix system where the grading is not fluctuating. We should maintain 90% and above for A1, 80%-89% for A2 and so on. The quality of the examination question should be raised. The questions were successfully predicted every year. They should have like 3 to 4 sets of question books for each paper so that the students won't be able to copy or predict during the examination.

The field specialization should be made as early as the students entered the intermediary school. Students should be allowed to determine their future within that period. Some might prefer to pursue in music, some would do mechanics, some maybe would love to do construction and maybe some would love to concentrate in sports and coaching.

That's the only way to prepare them not to be jobless in the future. The parents should open their mind that the success of living is not only achieved by doing engineering, medical or IT, but we all know that Siti Nurhaliza didn't have to go to any college to become a millionaire just by singing.

Anyway, those who would love to pursue in the science, mathematical, engineering, IT or business school should be given the opportunities to do so.

Badly, Malaysia is reported as lacking the number of doctors but this STUPID GOVT is limiting the entries to do MEDIC. I THINK I HAVE BRAIN BUT I STILL COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE GOVT IS SO CONTRADICTORY?

We would never be able to satisfy ourselves, wouldn't we?

The most recent, the GOVT people has only now suggesting to encourage people to use the ENVO DIESEL by reducing the road tax.

Other countries have done that long time ago. They encouraged people to use environmental friendly diesel engine (which are mostly turbocharged) by reducing their road tax too. With the latest tech in Diesel Engines, even without that OIL PALM additive, diesel engine would be a much more environmental friendly, compared to the petrol engine.

Malaysia has never been ahead.

We would never be able to be ahead of any country, wouldn't we?

-SIGH-

* Zetty is currently having her hard time. I pray that everything would be going fine with her. Insya Allah....

We would never be.... wouldn't we?

GLorious weekend? It's definitely not a glorious weekend for Malaysian, but for some of them, it was.

It was the end of the Commonwealth Game (CG) in Melbourne, Aussie, which Aussie as the host, as usual became the king of CG. I watched the closing ceremony which, if I was there, it would become an unforgettable moment for me. The fireworks were everywhere, not only in the stadium but also the whole melbourne city. That was something. The fireworks show was truly sophisticated, it may have been computerized, otherwise it couldn't be synchronized in such a way.

I was upset as none of the rhythmic gymnasts were able to gain a gold medal. Durratun, which I think is flexible and graceful enough, was always shadowed by Alexandra Michel Orlando of Canada. She has monopolized all the gold for the rhythmic gymnastic events. Durratun has done well enough but still Alex was far way better than her.

I would say, it was a glorious weekend for the badminton team. They're back in Malaysia with 4 golds. 2 were from the lawn bowl and another one was from the weightlifting contestant for 56 kg category, Mohd Faisal Baharom. KUdos to all of them. Next is in India.

Well, Malaysia could only claim itself as the best CG host. Melbourne wasn't only doing much better, they even ranked first in the festival. I wonder why Malaysia has always over rated itself. Come on! In this context also, we are no better than themlah!

Why was that? It's very rare that we became in any kind of sport. Nicol, the world 1st ranked squasy player were all by herself. Where's the backup? Is there any significant female squasy player like her in Malaysia? Badminton? China and Indon are far better than us. Sepaktakraw? I have no idea. We used to have major names like Mokhtar Dahari for Soccer, Adnan Saidin for Sepak Takraw, Rabuan Pit for atheletics, Sidek Brothers for Badminton, Nurul Huda Abdullah for Swimming and so many more!

One of the reason was that sports was over politicized. Rules like if you're not belong to an authorized sports association, you would never be allowed to participate in the competition should have not been there. This is killing us! Everyone should be given the same opportunity to take part in any sports even. Individuals, clubs and volunteery association should be allowed to organize their own event. Selection for team players should be opened to everyone. Not like the current way they are doing now, the selection invitation is limited; for those only was known to them.

Wrong! This is wrong! Any kind of selection must have been publicized widely. The media like the newspapers should work together to help our country to develop more and more athletes for the country. Recent effort, like what was done by Shabby for bulding up the MyTEAM for soccer must be complimented at most! See how many people were there to take part as they know, there's no such thing as open selection for them to be picked up to represent the country. Pathetic.

We would never be able to compete with the other countries, wouldn't we?

We all have heard that the government and the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) had voiced out their dissatisfaction towards the recent price decrease upon the introduction of the new National Automotive Policy (NAP). Najib said the price would have been decreasing a lot more, as it now is yet to satisfy the actual goal of the NAP itself. It is clear that the local carmakers were still keen on making profits rather than to have a bigger volume on sales.

Can you imagine, Perodua Kancil's price was just reduced by RM3xx as they said that it was still affordable. WTF? The govt. has reduced a lot of duties and tax, including the parts. Kancil's price should be at the price of maybe 4-5k only actually. But why they would never be able to do that? Because Kancil is Daihatsu's model. Remember? Perodua have to pay the royalty, tax, duties and so on. Now, even MyVI is a model of Toyota, which the model was Passo.

In the UK, Proton Wira's price was just 8-9k pound sterlings. Do not convert the money because the Brits were paid in pound sterlings too. Can you imagine how cheap are the cars in the UK? A small model of Fiat was just 5k++.

Malaysia was once like that. My father bought his Fiat 131 Supermirafiori at the price of $14k, back in the 1980. BMW was just $18k. Damn cheap if we can get that price nowadays.

We would never be like that, wouldn't we?

With the recent SPM result, a lot of good students with good results were produced. It has also resulted a much more limited placing for these good students to pursuit their studies, especially in the local universities. But we all know that it's the policy of the government to tabulate the marks so that the result can be more manipulative.

I would suggest that if we could, we would like to have a fix system where the grading is not fluctuating. We should maintain 90% and above for A1, 80%-89% for A2 and so on. The quality of the examination question should be raised. The questions were successfully predicted every year. They should have like 3 to 4 sets of question books for each paper so that the students won't be able to copy or predict during the examination.

The field specialization should be made as early as the students entered the intermediary school. Students should be allowed to determine their future within that period. Some might prefer to pursue in music, some would do mechanics, some maybe would love to do construction and maybe some would love to concentrate in sports and coaching.

That's the only way to prepare them not to be jobless in the future. The parents should open their mind that the success of living is not only achieved by doing engineering, medical or IT, but we all know that Siti Nurhaliza didn't have to go to any college to become a millionaire just by singing.

Anyway, those who would love to pursue in the science, mathematical, engineering, IT or business school should be given the opportunities to do so.

Badly, Malaysia is reported as lacking the number of doctors but this STUPID GOVT is limiting the entries to do MEDIC. I THINK I HAVE BRAIN BUT I STILL COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE GOVT IS SO CONTRADICTORY?

We would never be able to satisfy ourselves, wouldn't we?

The most recent, the GOVT people has only now suggesting to encourage people to use the ENVO DIESEL by reducing the road tax.

Other countries have done that long time ago. They encouraged people to use environmental friendly diesel engine (which are mostly turbocharged) by reducing their road tax too. With the latest tech in Diesel Engines, even without that OIL PALM additive, diesel engine would be a much more environmental friendly, compared to the petrol engine.

Malaysia has never been ahead.

We would never be able to be ahead of any country, wouldn't we?

-SIGH-

* Zetty is currently having her hard time. I pray that everything would be going fine with her. Insya Allah....

MTV Fashionably Loud di Singapure

Pada malam hari Rabu 22 Mac yang lalu, saya telah mendapat satu panggilan daripada kenalan lama, kenalan sejak kecil lagi iaitu Azureena atau nama manjanya Adik. Dia yang membahasakan dirinya Zuren (aik sejak bila pulak ni?) bertanyakan adakah saya mempunyai passport yang sah dan mempunyai masa untuk ke Singapura pada hari Khamis 23 Mac 2006? Alah, passport pun baru buat, mestilah masih sah.

Memandangkan masa yang agak terluang dan kebetulan memang akan berada di JB pada masa tersebut, saya memberikan jawapan 'YA'. Sebenarnya, Fara no 'H' ingin meminta saya menemaninya ke Singapura, untuk menyaksikan MTV Fashionably Loud yang akan di sertai oleh kumpulan the Placebo. Tapi siapa sebenarnya Placebo? Saya pun sebenarnya tak begitu pasti, yang pastinya, saya pernah mendengar namanya, tapi lagu2nya tidak pernah pula kedengaran. Sila rujuk di sini berkenaan Placebo.

Bagaimana agaknya pertunjukan fesyen yang diiringi oleh kumpulan rock? Ini adalah sesuatu yang menarik. Sebetulnya, pertunjukan fesyen akan hanya diiringi dengan muzik2 yang dimainkan oleh DJ atau pun hanya 'minus one'. Tapi belum pernah lagilah, pertunjukan fesyen diiringi muzik dangdut atau rebana ubi? Eh ke dah ada? TU idea baru juga tu..!

Kagum dengan kesungguhan dan kegigihan Fara yang sebenarnya seorang insan yang sangat teristimewa, yang hanya berkerusi roda untuk memenuhi impiannya menyaksikan Placebo beraksi, saya berasa sungguh teruja. Tanpa berfikir panjang saya terus bersetuju!

Dari Johor Bahru, kami menaiki teksi untuk memasuki singapura. Singapura tu bukanlah sebuah lubang yang boleh dimasuki, tetapi sebenarnya ia adalah sebuah negara. Maaflah yer lawak yang tak sesuai dengan masanya. Tambangnya, masya-Allah, 40 dollar singapura, bersamaan dengan RM88 duit kita. Mahalnya nak mampus, tapi tak mengapalah. Keselesaan Fara adalah lebih penting dari segala-galanya. Jika saya berseorangan sahaja, sudah tentu saya naik bas sahaja. Kemudian naik MRT. Ke Orchard Road pergi balik belum tentu habis 10 dollar singapura.

Pakcik pemandu tu pun baik. Terpaksalah baik sebab kami akan bayar dia 40 dollar singapura. Banyak tu. Macam2 jugalah yang dia sembangkan dengan kami. Termasuklah kebimbangan tentang pembinaan Jambatan baru yang akan menggantikan Tambak Johor itu. Tahu tak apa yang dibimbangkannya? Kena bayar TOL lebih. Hahahaha! Siapalah punya propaganda itu!

Kalau saya ni pemimpin kerajaan Malaysia, dah tentu saya bagi percuma sahaja. Sebabnya, selepas pembukaan jambatan itu, air Tambak Johor sudah mengalir, dan kapal juga boleh lalu di bawahnya. Kapal2 dah tentu tak singgah di Singapura lagi. Mereka hanya akan singgah di Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) atau Pelabuhan Pasir Gudang sahaja. Untung wa cakap lu!!! Singapura sure bangkrap lepas tu!

Tapi singapura tetap bijak. Mereka terus berusaha untuk mengekalkan keindahan negaranya, termasuklah lebih mmeberikan warna kebudayaan untuk terus memajukan industri pelancongan, termasuk perkara-perkara yang tak mampu dilakukan oleh Malaysia. Mereka dah terlalu jauh di hadapan. Seperti mana yang kita boleh saksikan, sebaik sahaja tayar kereta anda mencecah jalan raya singapura, sudah terasa seperti di suatu negara yang bukan bercuaca iklim khatulistiwa seperti kita. Terasa Singapura lebih sejuk dari KL. Kenapa? Pergilah tengok sendiri. Malas nak tulis. Asyik melencong aje. Cerita sebenarnya tak masuk pun lagi.

Kami terus dihantar je Orchard Road. Tempat yang kami hendak tujui ialah Ngee Ann City. Acara akan berlangsung di dalam The Tent yang telah didirikan di situ. Mungkin ianya struktur tetap atau sementara, tak pasti lah saya. Yang saya pasti, suasananya agak bising dengan ledakan bunyian muzik yang kuat dari dalam khemah tersebut. Setibanya di situ, saya dapat perhatikan yang begitu ramai sekali orang yang beratur untuk memasuki acara tersebut.

Saya dengan perlahan menolak kerusi roda Fara di celah2 orang ramai. Saya sungguh terperanjat melihatkan mereka semua memberi kerjasama yang baik kepada kami untuk melalui lautan orang ramai yang beratur itu. Sungguh tak disangka. Kalau di Malaysia, rasanya mereka tak akan memberi layanan sebaik itu. Hinggakan kami terlanggar kaki mereka pun, mereka yang minta maaf. Sungguh baik hati ok!

Setibanya di hadapan pintu masuk, kami terus menghubungi Noorain, penyelia yang sepatutnya menguruskan ketibaan dan kemasukan Fara ke acara tersebut. Kami telah disapa oleh seorang gadis india, dan beliau berjanji akan membawa kami masuk sebaik sahaja pintu besar dibuka. Agak lama juga kami menunggu. Pintu besar sudah dibuka tetapi kami masih tidak dibawa masuk. Saya agak cemas lalu saya cuba menghubungi noorain semula. Akhirnya kami bergegas ke kaunter pendaftaran. Seorang pengurus berbangsa barat telah meminta agar kami diberi layanan istimewa. Saya sendiri telah ditegur oleh seorang pelancong barat, yang bertanyakan adakah kami memerlukan bantuan untuk masuk?

Fara telah dibantu oleh Noorain sendiri untuk masuk ke dalam. Saya sungguh gembira kerana saya telah membantu Fara mencapai impiannya untuk menghadiri acara tersebut. Fara telah diberikan tempat yang baik dan selamat untuk menonton acara tersebut. Saya telah mengambil gambar lampu merah itu. Hehe.

Dalam gambar ini ialah tulis MTV Fashionable Loud yang saya ambil. Keupayaan mengambil gambar agak terhad kerana tiada pencahayaan yang baik. Untuk mengambil gambar malam, agak sukar kerana saya tidak membawa tripod dan gambar menjadi agak bergetar. Ini pun berkali2 di ambil barulah saya berpuas hati.

Inilah dia kumpulan Placebo. Memang saya tak pernah dengar pun lagu2 mereka. Lagu2 mereka lebih seperti Smashing Pumpkins dan Nine Inch Nails. Suara penyanyi adalah sedikit seperti Billy Corgan, bekas penyanyi Smashing Pumpkins itu. Tapi yang saya lebih berpuas hati, ialah melihat impian Fara untuk menyaksikan Placebo secara langsung telah tercapai, walaupun terpaksa berpuas hati melihat hanya kepala mereka sahaja kerana di akhir pertunjukan, semakin ramai orang bersesak di hadapan Fara.

Secara keseluruhannya, persembahan mereka agak menarik kerana lagu2 yang dimainkan sejajar dengan fesyen yang ditonjolkan setiap kali model-model tersebut berjalan keluar menggayakan fesyen yang direka.

Masa nak balik? Ya allah. Tunggu teksi lebih lama dari menonton pertunjukan. Keluar jam 9, nak dekat jam 11 baru dapat teksi. Itu pun kami ke Queen Street dahulu, untuk mendapatkan teksi ke Johor Bahru, di mana tambangnya agak murah sedikit, RM35 terus ke Hotel Century di mana Fara dan ibunya menginap.

Bila terkenangkan Fara, saya rasa sungguh bangga kerana dia seorang yang kuat semangat dan tak pernah rasa seperti dia kekurangan apa-apa. Seronok juga berbual dengan Fara sebab citarasa muzik kami agak sama, iaitu sesuatu yang berlainan, non mainstream. Dia pun minat carcass macam saya.

Ibunya berterima kasih yang amat sangat kerana saya menemani Fara ke singapura. Dia dah balik ke KL pun.

Memang sepatutnya orang2 kurang upaya mendapat layanan yang sewajarnya dari masyarakat. Saya gembira kerana Fara tidak pernah mendapat layanan yang teruk daripada orang lain. Fara bukan setakat membuktikan yang dia mampu melakukan apa yang orang biasa boleh buat, malah dia boleh melakukan sesuatu yang orang biasa seperti saya ini tak boleh buat. Saya amat kagum dengan semangatnya.

Di kaca TV sekarang ini, Sukan Komanwel sedang giat berlangsung. Serentak berlangsung ialah acara untuk orang2 kurang upaya. Saya sungguh seronok menonton pertandingan angkat berat pagi tadi. Besar betul tangan mereka.

Besar sebab mereka juga yakin mereka boleh menakluk dunia suatu hari nanti....