Lulu Facing Buffer Overun Problem at Home

and too busy to blog from office. That's why-la, not many post the past week.

Maybe things will get better the coming weeks... but I don't think so.

busy busy busy

busy as a bee

Lulu Found The Everywoman - Apostasy Episode on YouTube

don't weep, my beautiful country.
Instead, choose to do something about it.

Start by asking WHY and what can I do so that it will never ever happen to another family.

Lulu Thinks It WOuld Be a Far, Far Better Thing for Our MPs to...

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."
This was the last line in the Charles Dicken’s classic, A Tale Of Two Cities. Sidney Carlton, willingly took the place of his lookalike love-rival, Charles Darnay to the guillotine in place.

I have to confess, the dispensing of goodies during by-elections has always convinced me that the best things a Member of Parliament (MP) or State Assemblyman could do for his constituency would be to do something which could bring about a by-election. As far back as the Bentong by-election in 1989, when Tan Sri Chan Siang Sun died of a heart attack. My dad remarked that during the 30 years when the late Tan Sri was MP, the new villagers could not get the TOL for the land and homes they were occupying. During the by-elections, it practically rained TOLs. [In those days, when people said TOL, it was referred to Temporary Occupational License, not the bad word toll that we dread today]. Even then, I could see the “blessings” in calling a by-election, and today, I see it repeated in Batu Talam, Machap and Ijok.

To vacate the seat, the MP/Assemblyman does not have to die. There are other ways like being disqualified due to corruption, or a simple old fashioned resignation. The first one, I don’t wish it upon any of our MPs/Assemblymen, the second, with all that “morally wrong but legally right” nonsense in this country, short of a murder charge, I don’t think that we would see anyone in such a predicament. BUT there’s always the third option – to resign.

Maybe our MPs and Assemblymen need to consider whether their resignation which would necessitate a by-election could bring far, far better things for their constituency compared to if they stay in the office forever and ever.

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

For residents in Kampung Kebun and TTDI Jaya, if Datuk Abdul Aziz Samsuddin and Datuk Salamon Selamat the respective MP of Shah Alam and Assemblyman of Batu Tiga were to resign, there would probably be more allocations set aside to correct the flood woes that they are faced with. The machines would all be parked along the road and along the drains probably the same day the resignation is submitted. Deeper and wider drains, and who knows, they may want to win bad enough to stop the overdevelopment down the road along the Guthrie Corriddor.

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

If Dr Rozaidah Talib [who topped the traveling expenses list] from P. 099 - Ampang, recognizes her helplessness in helping the residents of her constituency, resigns it would probably mean a press conferece featuring the residents of Kampung Berembang given keys to new premises. An instant solution to their homeless situation. Now, wouldn’t that be a Kodak moment? Loads on BN banner and pictures of the former squatters beaming ear to ear holding mock keys of their new homes. And for those who have houses along the Ampang-Hulu Kelang range, after years of helplessness, reporting and bringing to the press and writing to ministers about the land clearing in their area, will be given a “new” promise that the clearing of land near their landslide prone homes will stop. But after so many “blanket bans” after each tragic landslide, Lulu not sure if the residents of Taman Hijau would be able to heave a sigh of relief or not.

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

Alice may get her wish to continue to live peacefully, breathing the fresh air here in Broga, if the MP of Hulu Langat, Datuk Markiman Kobiran [another frequent traveler], or Datuk Ahamad Kuris Mohd Nor the assemblyman at Semenyih were to resign in solidarity with the residents there. Lulu don’t know whether they could not or would not do anything to prevent the 1,500 tonne incinerator from being built at their housing area. The Puchong residents successfully lobbied for that incinerator to be moved, so, what’s preventing it from moving IF a by-election is called?

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

And not forgetting Lulu’s MP - if Chew Mei Fun were to make a stern stand on the crime level, would resign by principle to create a safer living environment for herself instead of shifting into a gated community, I’m sure not just Aman Suria, but the whole of PJ would indeed move towards being a safer place to stay in. The by-elections would probably include generous allocations to the police stations, additional staffing, and more cars to patrol the area. And the toilets at the SS2 glutton street would be spick and span, good enough for even the pampered to use.

Lulu’s only mentioning localised issues as I don’t think that any of the candidates would make any stand on national policies.

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

Maybe it has never crossed their mind.
Maybe they’ll read this post, and consider the thought.
Maybe one of them wants a far, far better rest.
He/She should consider this option.

Lulu's Watching Al-Jazeera tonight 9:30pm

Lulu received 3 sms-es today telling me that al-jazeera will be featuring what the M'sian govt is doing about the apostacy cases in the country, and it's impact on non-Muslims. Also, never before seen footages of apostates in detention.
AlJazeera, tonight 9:30.
and if your tech savvy, please record it and upload to youtube.

also from Harris Ibrahim's The People's Parliament, with reference to "a man whose wife and child was taken away from him by those who will have us believe they act in the defence of Islam",
"This man has been interviewed by AlJazeera. Footage on this matter aired on Friday and is due to be repeated tonight, 22/4/07 at 9:30pm, Astro Channel 20"

Thanks

update 9:40
aiyah... don't have la. The schedule says, "Inside Iraq", and that's what's on now.
Would call Harris, the Man, but his number is in my office email, which, is in the office. Anyone has any idea what time it will be on? Or where to find the youtube version?

Lulu Would Like to Hear PJU's MP's Stand on Issues Confronting Our Nation

Haris Mohd Ibrahim, JeffOoi's defence lawyer in the defamation suit, has started a new blog: The People's Parliament.

Haris is involved in a civil society project that is being initiated to enable voters to know better the stand of their present MPs on several pressing issues that confront our country.
The idea is to get a group of voters from a particular constituency to approach their sitting MP for clarification as to his personal stand on those issues. The MP concerned will be pressed to make his stand publicly known and will be informed that his failure to do so will be taken to mean that his views do not conform to the views of his constituents

He is looking for people who live and vote in
1. Bandar Tun Razak
2. Batu
3. Setiawangsa
4. Lembah Pantai
5. Segambut
7. Petaling Jaya Selatan
8. Petaling Jaya Utara
9. Subang
10. Kelana Jaya
and would like to be involved in this effort, to send an e-mail to thepeoplesparliament@gmail.com with your full name and contact particulars.
Don't worry if your constituency is not listed above. He has to start with a managable number, and move from there. If you can gather 10 voters from your area, I'm sure it would fastrack your request to meet your MP.
The current count is
PJ Selatan : 6
PJ Utara : 3
Lembah Pantai : 1
Batu : 2
Segambut : 2
Subang : 1

Other than being the MP of PJU, Lulu's MP is also the Secretary to Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. I think it would be interesting to hear what her stand is on Article 11. We have seen the impact in real life families. She has not said anything about the families of R Subashini and P Marimuthu & Raimah Bibi. What is her ministry doing to protect these families? What is her position on the usage of Syariah court when one spouse is a dhimmy?
Wouldn't that be more relevant than her "Chew blames men for single girls" theory in Parliament?

Would you heed Haris's call, and drop him a mail commiting yourself to at least find our more about YOUR member of Parliament?

Lulu, The Concerned MBPJ Ratepayer

The very first novel I owned was Jeffrey Archer's "Kane and Abel". I was totally mesmerised with the brilliance of the plot. Two men, born on the same day, how their lives intertwined, and yet, ended up as bitter enemies. And the twist at the end, probably predictable to more matured readers, left me stunned and with the "if only... " feeling.

Thanks to PayLess Books, Lulu owns almost the entire collection of Jeffrey Archer books. Almost cos still pending the newer released which would probably take 1-2 years before it hits the 2nd hand circuit.

There is this short story, I can't recall the title cos the book is at home, about how 2 men, the best-est of friends, the sort who grew up together and became each other's children's godfather had a spat in their golf club, and exchanged verbal insults and blows in full view of the members. I can't remember what the damage was but the less successful friend sued his kononnya ex-best friend. Cerita-cerita-cerita, he won the law suit. Later, the two men were seen together in the club having drinks, best-est of friends once again, as if nothing had happened.
Turns out that they ganged up to create this lawsuit, and the successful friend had insurance coverage against lawsuits, and together, they successfully milked the insurance company of the money.
Or something like that....

Which brings us to Lulu's short story for the day.

A major billboard operator has threatened the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) with a lawsuit for the breach of contract of a deal worth RM379mil in total and is demanding unspecified damages.

The Star Metro, today
The background of it, as reported by the Star

Seni Jaya Sdn Bhd was revealed to have made a proposal to privatise billboard operations in Petaling Jaya but the documents, which were leaked out by unknown persons, drew public condemnation (The Star, June 8, 2006).
MBPJ had then declared that there were no plans to privatise billboard operations in PJ (The Star, June 30, 2006).

Metro's news leaves Lulu very disturbed.
To understand how much is at stake, how much it may have cost SeniJaya to own the billboards rights and how much they could have earned,

According to a memorandum opposing the privatisation of billboards submitted by the All PJ Pro Action Committee (APPAC) to MBPJ, the consortium offered a total sum of RM492,000 for a 15-year concession period to cover billboard advertising in the city.
For a standard billboard, the council charges an annual licensing fee of RM480 and an annual service charge of RM2,400.
For the larger unipole billboards, the council charges an annual licensing fee of RM11,200 and RM7,200 for services.
Advertisers are quoted RM30,000 on average to advertise on the standard billboards and RM580,000 for unipoles along the LDP Highway.

source : Citizen Nades 06/28/2006
If Lulu is reading this correctly, the rental of just one unipole would have covered the cost of of the entire 15 year monoploly.

Lulu is greatly concerned as there is no checks and accountability that MBPJ would put up her best defense in this lawsuit. Like the two gentleman who were in cahoots, who's to say that certain individuals in MBPJ may still want to see their "friends" not lose from this lucrative, non-benefitting the PJ ratepayer's deal? Who's going to scrutinice if they do an out of court settlement? Who's taking care of OUR money, cos Lulu definetly does not think that MBPJ will.

-------------------------------------------
sorry, i've been busy. won't be getting any better the next 2-3 months. sigh..

updates Wed, Apr18

for more updates on the issue, read
Citizen Nades' When things fall apart discussed the Sports Club involvement in accepting contributions for the billboards
There is another article which appeared on Tuesday's Sun, but I can't find the link. "PJ Ratepayers Fight Back".
Along the same lines, from theStar, PJ residents want billboard company to provide them with info

APPAC pro tem chairman Edward Lee said APPAC would instead register its interest by way of seeking a watching brief by its panel of lawyers acting on behalf of ratepayers should the matter go to court.

I'm glad there are concerned citizen's keeping watch on this, but, I still think MBPJ is going to get off on this, together with their friends at SeniJaya. I guess it doesn't hurt to hope differently.

If you want to read the history of these billboards, MBPJ and the SportsClub, go the TheSun, and do a search on "billboard".

Don't Do a Machap On Lulu

Lulu got this sms from a friend today

I think I lost faith with Malaysians more than I have lost faith with an increasingly inept government.

I think his anger and frustration is due to the tiny dent that DAP made in the Machap by-elections. Like him, Lulu was hoping and expecting a bigger dent, but somehow, it didn't happen. Jed, who was on Ground Zero with TeamDAP has an analysis on this in her blog, 2020freelunch.

Lulu votes in P106 PJ Utara and N36 Kg Tunku.

I am most embarassed to say that I live in BN domain. WIth polling centers in these areas

and a racial mix like that

one would expect it to be different.

But it's not. For the past two terms, the population here has taken the "take care of my rice bowl", "he paves the roads", "so what about national issues" mentality and returned BN into power. In the 2004 elections, CMF won by a 18,000 majority! WHY do we still continue to do so???

Like my friend, I am also exasperated.

and amazed.

I also worry in case I join him, losing faith with Malaysians more than I have lost faith with an increasingly inept government.

Our country deserves better than someone who decides the solution to protecting her safety is by shifting into a gated community. What about you and me, those who cannot afford to stay in Aman Suria?

We need leaders who will make us into a bettter nation. One who will provide the check and balance against all the blatant abuses we have put up.

Don't do a Machap on Lulu.

Vote wisely, vote for the future of your children.

Your rice bowl is not just for today. You also need to preserve your children's rice bowl.

Look at what's happening in your neighbourhood today. In your town. In your children's school. Imagine what happens if it continues in this trend.

A simple one - PJ will be filled with more billboards than you could ever imagine. But the township would always not have enough funds for upkeep or enhancement of facilities as all the money goes to the "Sports Club" who had contracted it out at a song to a monopoly who is somehow connected to someOne.

ANother simple one. All playgrounds would have a portion of the land cordoned off for cabin space for politicians who believe more in grabbing public land than paying rent for their own space which is for their own usage.

are you tired? I'm tired.

are you angry? I'm angry.

are you willing to make a change?

The downward spiral MUST stop.

Fed Up! Lulu's Heard This Tune Too Many Times

Poor design, shoddy workmanship, and bad supervision and maintenance are to blame

and if the government is not fed-up about it, Lulu don't know what to say anymore.

School buildings unfit for use due to shoddy workmanship
MATRADE building which was delayed, and required repairs

Mould found in newly handover hospitals
Cracks on MRR2
and now, this

It was so bad, the water from the 7th floor caused the 5th floor ceiling to crash.

and this is not the finale. Putrajaya Public Works Department director Abdul Rahim Ahmad has been quoted by the Star as saying, “I have seen similar shoddy workmanship at several other buildings in Putrajaya,”

always the same tune
Poor design, shoddy workmanship, and bad supervision and maintenance are to blame

Lulu knows this is wistful thinking but Lulu wants the government to act reponsibly and award contracts to people who will do the job well and efficiently. I'm tired to hearing of all these problems that follow, and worse, most of them come back with an inflated bill, way off from the bid price.

Stop handing out contracts to those who will line your pocket
Stop handing out contracts to those who give your party money
Stop handing out contracts to those who are related to you
Stop handing out contracts to those who will hire your relations on paper, pay them, and don't even expect them to come to work
Stop handing out contracts to those individuals who are proven failure, but are not blacklisted because they are now bidding under a new company

... i think you get the picture.

I do think the government is fed-up of this, but as long as they need "these" contractors, we can only expect more of it to happen :-(

It's easy to say that it doesn't really matter to us, it's "their" business. But as I fill up my income tax form, I'm reminded how much of my hard earned money is being wasted.

Make a difference. Join Lulu in putting your "X" where it matters to make that difference.

Lulu Offers Two Tunes To PM

Today, I was at the CEO's office, and overheard some top gun trying to make an appointment with the CEO. Because like all CEOs [real ones that is, not the Lulu Writes Fiction daft one] , he is quite a busy chap, with travelling and meetings on his schedule. On top of that, this top gun is not really anyone important to our business, so, the PA told the top gun that the earliest slot he would have for him would be in the third week of May.

Unlike my CEO, our Prime Minister is making himself available at the spur of the moment to meet the Volkswagen cheif.

I am waiting,'' Abdullah told reporters. "I am expecting (them) to come anytime.''
the Star, 2nd April

“I am waiting to meet the (Volkswagen) chief. He has indicated that he wants to see me. So, I am expecting him to come anytime,”
the Star, 3rd April

and in today's paper,

“I have not seen him yet,” he said. “I don’t think I can wait too long.” The Prime Minister, however, declined to say how long he was willing to wait for the Volkswagen chief. “I will not tell you when, you just wait.”

When negotiating any deal, a supposedly win-win proposal is usually given. A lot of cat and mouse game going on, but NEVER would either party bow down looking so desparate as our PM is in his negotiation to "dispose" of Proton. The two main signs, one - that the Prime Minister is involving himself in this commercial deal, and two - he is still willing to wait for Volkswagen in spite of their silence are clear obvious signals on how badly we want this deal to go through and how low we would stoop to make it happen.

I guess the tune of the day for PM would be AirSupply's I Can Wait Forever.
CHORUS
I can wait forever,
if you say you'll be there, too
I can wait forever, if you will,
I know it's worth it all
To dump Proton to you.....

a close second, Please Don't Go by KC and The Sunshine Band
please don't go
Don't go
Don't go away
Hey, hey, hey
I need you to-buyout-Proton
I'm down on my knees
Beggin' please, please, please
Don't go
Don't you hear me baby
please don't go

if you give me a call, I'd sing it to you *wink*

Lulu Will Miss Johnny Hart

ALBANY, N.Y. - Cartoonist Johnny Hart, whose award-winning "B.C." comic strip appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers worldwide, has died. He was 76.

Hart died Saturday while working at his home in Endicott.
"He had a stroke," his wife, Bobby, said Sunday. "He died at his storyboard."

"B.C.," populated by prehistoric cavemen and dinosaurs, was launched in 1958 and eventually appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers with an audience of 100 million, according to Creators Syndicate Inc., which distributes it.

Assuredly, today you will be with Jesus in Paradise.

Lulu Agrees With Aisehman

Pundak [Parti Undi Rosak Malaysia] is one really funny blog.
It's really really funny.

Their categories
Dasar-Dasar Umum funny!
Kementerian Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri funny!
Kementerian Kewangan funny!
Kementerian Pendidikan funny!
Kementerian Pertahanan funny!

Funny to the point of hilarious. So funny that Lulu was laughing away whilst reading it. Click here to Dapatkan Kemeja-Virtual UniTee anda di sini - PERCUMA!
But seriously, don't spoil your vote. Use it wisely to make a difference.
If you can't bring yourself to vote for someone for a party, be it the from the ruling party or the opposition, then consider voting for the independant candidate so that at least that poor chap doesn't lose his deposit.
If you're from PJU, please join Lulu and NOT return CMF to parliament. Thanks!

Thank You, My Lord and My Saviour

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 23

44 It was now about the sixth hour,
and darkness came over the whole land
until the ninth hour,
45 for the sun stopped shining.
And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
46 Jesus called out with a loud voice,
"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."
When he had said this, he breathed his last.

First Baptist Church's Good Friday Service will be held at 8:30pm tonight.

The church is located along Jalan Pantai, Jln 9/7, Petaling Jaya.

UncleKit Drives in The Need For True Practice of Article11

Lim Kit Siang, the Opposition Leader in Parliament blogged about a case of an Indian lady born to Moslem parents who opted out of the faith.

Siti Fatimah was born in 1978 to an Indian Muslim couple. She was brought up by er grandmother who is a practising Hindu. She sees herself as a Hindu and declared herself as one on 21 Mar 2001 through a statutory declaration. She changed her name to Revathi Masoosai.
She is married to Suresh a/l Veerappan, a Malaysian Indian Hindu on 10 March 2004, against her family’s opposition. They could not register their marriage because of her religion.
She gave birth to a daughter on 19 December 2005 at the Malacca General Hospital. Two days later, just about when she was packing to go home, three men and a woman who introduced themselves as officials from Malacca Islamic Office came to ask her to hand over her daughter to them. She refused.
She was not able to register her daughter as a Hindu. In fact she had difficulty in getting her a birth certificate. She had to change her Muslim name to Hindu name in her identity card.
In January this year, Revathi was taken into custody and taken to Pusat Pemulihan Akidah di Ulu Yam, Selangor, for rehabilitation for 100 days. Her rehabilitation will be due by 18 April but her detention can be extended.

It gets sadder. Read it here.

Article 11 prescribes Freedom of religion.(1) Every person has the right to profess and practise his religion and, subject to Clause (4), to propagate it.

When will we get to see a real and true practice of Article 11?
Please excuse me while I go shed some tears for this family.

Chang Lih Kang's Handling of Rela Earns Lulu's Respect

and his handphone number earns a space in my handphone memory.

Lulu, as you know, is NO fan of Rela. I was reading with some degree of amusement Chang Lih Kang's handling of some Rela bullies in his blog, and I thought that there may be some of you who may need these tips should you have any encounters with them. He blogs at The Road Not Taken, and the Rela Entry is at A Night With Rela.

Chang Lih Kang is a Campaign Coordinator with Suaram.
He handles cases of police abuse of power and runs campaigns to hold police force accountable to their act. Prior to joining SUARAM, he was already an active leader of a human rights student youth group. He has a degree in civil engineering.

Lulu Don't Think Joceline Tan Will Be Allowed To Do Any Editorials On The PM

"Of late, she is spending such long hours praying at night that she sometimes nods off at meetings in the day"
Joceline Tan, in reference to Datin Dr Wan Azizah, President of PKR
EliWong, who assists her in Parliament, is very upset over this. Check out what she has to say about it.

Lulu guesses Joceline Tan will NOT be allowed to do any editorials on the PM. Goodness knows what she would write if she did.