Building A New Society Whilst Saving An Old One

I am inspired to resume blogging as both NGOs where I aim to serve well made great strides this past week. Also thought it worth me waking up from my stupor and do something better with my on-line time than playing Shogun 2 Total War or wondering when Spurs will start winning again (we left it almost too late last season!)

Blog House Malaysia attended its first function last Sunday night as invitees to the celebration of the early success of Tun Dr Mahathir's Memoirs... 40 Thousand sold as of last Sunday, and counting! We also started talking more seriously about our first marquee event, the 1st Malaysian-ASEAN Regional Bloggers' Conference! Very exciting... With this marquee event, we hope to launch our organisation formally... and so invite all you Bloggers out there to join us!

And what of MAYC? All seems quiet as if we were in a 'cold war' or something. Actually, we are awaiting the results of the appeal by TS Syed Hamid and Syed Rahman's puppet MAYC Exco for the validity of their AGM - it was deemed illegal and invalidated by the Registrar of Youth earlier. The strange thing is that the KSU of the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS), Dato' Mohid, who heads the appeal panel, actually officiated TS Syed Hamid's AGM! Conflict of interest no?

We shall see with great interest. On our side, it actually gives us great confidence that the inherent conflict of interest, with the KSU refusing to recuse himself when asked, means that if TS Syed Hamid's AGM succeeds in the appeal, which was held without a legal quorum and so dienfranchised so many members, we have grounds for an appeal and legal recourse! The MACC is still investigating them all of course...

So, much happening in the quiet. Anyway, as a final word, I was on radio for the first time last Saturday! BFM invited me under the recommendation of an old friend to take part in a debate on AFFIRMATIVE ACTION! Hah! How could I say no! So, for those who would like to have a listen, please check out the podcast at this link.

BFM introduced me as both President of MAYC AND VP of Blog House Malaysia... so acknowledging my 2 current passions where NGO movements are concerned - saving an old Society whilst building a new one... ironic considering my views expressed at BFM!

PRK Hulu Selangor Membahayakan Kesejahteraan Rakyat

Sudah cukup lama saya berdiam diri dalam hal ini tetapi sehingga tidak tertahan lagi. Saya merasakan begitu gundah kebelakangan ini kerana kelihatan media arus pelbagai lebih menumpukan perhatian kepada PRK Hulu Selangor sekaligus mengabaikan kesejahteraan rakyat. Tuduhan saya berdasarkan begitu ringkas atau terabainya laporan mengenai perkembangan Gelombang Kedua H1N1 di kalangan rakyat negara kita!

Semua rakyat Malaysia kini pasti sudah disentuh oleh Gelombang Kedua ini. Kalau bukan keluarga rapat yang terkena, pasti kawan atau saudara sekampung sudah, khususnya melalui anak yang dijangkiti mahupun disyaki mengidap H1N1. Jurublog mengetahui begitu ramai anak-anak yang kini sedang dikuarantin malah anak bongsu saya sendiri menerima ubat Tamiflu sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga, walaupun alhamdulillah kini ternyata beliau tidak lagi dihinggapi H1N1.

Mungkinkah apa yang dituduh oleh jurublog ini terlalu tajam dan kurang adil terhadap media pelbagai arus, tetapi tidakkah terlalu ketara, begitu mendadak perbezaannya antara pemantauan H1N1 dahulu berbanding dengan Gelombang Keduanya yang dikhuatiri lebih merbahaya? Adakah kenyataan media dan saranan TS Ismail Merican mengenai H1N1 tidak sepenting lompatknya parti Datuk Dr Halili Rahmat? Tahulah PRK sekarang berita hangat, tetapi...

Adakah perlu ada kematian dahulu dari H1N1 sebelum sensasinya patut dipaparkan pada muka depan akhbar? Bagaimana dengan tanggungjawab media kepada masyarakat? Media apa punlah, termasuk blog seperti ini! Janganlah kerana ghairah PRK kita terlupa tanggungjawab kepada masyarakat. Rakyat lebih menghargai usaha menyelamatkan nyawa, terutama yang kecil serta tersayang, dari suatu lagi drama merebut kuasa...

A Couple Of Worthy Plugs

Was asked to, checked out and agreed to plug a new comedy program that an old friend, former Angkasawan candidate and fellow UK grad, Zaid Zahari, has been working on. Check it out from tonight, Wednesday, 9.30pm on Astro RIA. The program's a sketch series that is common in the UK but not so common here... yet. It's called Alamak and they have a website for you to check out.

Whilst I'm plugging, noticed recently that my Ayah has started writting again, and in more earnest than previously! He's now got an irregular column in Berita Minggu and his blog has had a few of postings already that are both informative historically and still relevant to the present. He is my Ayah, so please check out his write-up on the ISA (he was Deputy Home Minister) if you don't think I'm credible as a plugger :-)

I'm rather proud that my Ayah is writing these pieces though, as he's showcasing a better way for political veterans and former leaders to contribute to society - through views, reflections and ideas that do not impose, but simply instigate debate and greater depths in thought. And also hinting that you don't have to be a Tun to do so...