Friday, December 5, 2008

FRIDAY GUEST BLOGGER - SAKMONGKOL AK47

ABOUT SAKMONGKOL AK47 aka Mat Tomoi

Sakmongkol AK47 is the nom de plume of this blogger. He was ADUN of Pulau Manis, Pekan.(2004-2008) Trained as an economist at the University of Malaya and the university of Manchester.Whether properly trained is another matter. Sakmongkol was a legendary Muay Thai fighter. AK 47 is the Russian made firearm. Sakmongkol will punch, elbow,kick, knee opponents. If these fail, he will fire his AK47.


+++++

I thoroughly enjoy reading him and he has been on my blogroll as Sakmongkol - the fastest draw.
I like his raw fervour, his care-a-damn breezy style that can floor you muay-thai fashion but above all he aims and fires unlike the subprime politicians he knees with precision, most often. He should know better because he was there. He definitely gives you a better take on my yesterday's BAD, BADDER, BADDEST. Have an enjoyable read....its an intellectual treat.

+++++

Sub-Prime Politicians

A primer on Sub-prime politicians.( thanks to analyst at large).

I remember a polemic between two intellectuals in the late 1970’s. One was the artist( Redza Piyadesa-he has passed on I think) and the other the literary critic and gadfly, Salleh ben Joned.( don’t know where he is). Cant remember what the actual quarrel was, but can remember, the metaphor used. Can the act of urinating be considered good art when captured on canvass? Some call it urinating, Malaysians call it just passing water. Passing water and urinating is the same. The same thing is viewed differently when different terms are used. Urinating is regarded as urbane, sophisticated, while passing water is regarded as crude and plebeian.


Now take the term sub-prime. Prime is tops, number one, the best. Sub means below. So when the term is used on say, mortgages, you have sub-prime mortgages, which simply mean the mortgagees are below standard. But you lend them money anyway.


How did we allow sub-prime borrowers get loans in the first place? Greedy and easily grease-palmed bank officers can be kau-teemed by borrowers. Borrowers inflate their incomes. They can do this in so many ways and the falsification scams are countenanced by bank officers. Maybe over karaoke sessions, dangdut, expensive cigars, Dom Perignom, who knows?


Lending institutions lend credibility to subprime borrowers by having the government create special purpose vehicles. Something like Dana Modal or Dana Harta. Or maybe even Khazanah Holdings. These buy up the subprime mortgages from front line banks. Banks get more money as they become more liquid. and lend some more. The institutions who mop up the sub-prime mortgages perhaps are backed by insurance/government and so they think, they have security.


Next enter the credit ratings bodies- that pool of super intelligent financial analysts, accountants, economists and so forth, who give their sage-like assessments on the mortgages bought by SPVs. They say these are AAA rated, others are EEE rated( not sure they do this or not).

The whole thing is an unsupervised scam. Borrowers bluff their way to getting loans with collusion from officers who sell loans to SPVs who take out insurance and sell to investors because their portfolio holdings are rated best in their class. Until, they run out of borrowers or until there are no more crooks around to lend money too.

Imagine the whole scam on UMNO politics.


That’s the same process on how you end up with sub-prime politicians. Call them by these terms, you have a more dignified, refined and sophisticated terminology. In reality, they are really- half past six politicians, nitwits, braggarts and so on.


How did they get past the branches? Because those active in kampong levels are basically layabouts, nothing better to do or are just people looking for easy rides. They make up the majority of the delegates at branch levels and crooks elect the best among them.


They move on to bahagian or division levels. Operators at branch levels move around the bahagian singing praises of this and that person. Giving endorsements and certification or accreditation. These newly anointed ketua cawangans enjoy some inflated reputation and earn some prominence. But the number of crooks receiving similar accreditation from professional apple polishers is many. So they compete to get approvals from divisional office bearers. Division office bearers too want continued support from these sub-prime ketua cawangans and so repeat the same process. Fearful for their own positions, they give high ratings to subprime ketua cawangans, giving overestimation on the worth of these goons.


The process is repeated and the inept among the subprime ketua cawangans and divisional officers get booted out. The fittest, i.e. the trickiest and worst lowlifes among them get elected to become the anointed office bearers at division levels.


Next enter, the credit rating agencies. These are the master spy catchers of the ketua bahagian and if the ketua bahagian is a minister, he has political secretaries, special officers, private secretaries, security officers giving ratings on office bearers. Like rating agencies, some are rated AAA and some DDD or EEE.


In the end, the inbuilt sub-priming process, give birth to sub-prime politicians at national levels. Hence you are saddled with the Tajuddins and Bung Mokhtars of the world.


Thursday, December 4, 2008

YES MUKRIZ....I AGREE....NO VERNACULAR SCHOOL = INTEGRATION.

We are on speaking terms now....it is a matter of saying those three words: Me: "Iam sorry" and Hantu "Maybe I'm Wrong".

I asked him to retrieve from his vast gallery, something to bring out the importance of our young integrating. This is what he sent. I complained that it was about only one group." I happened to be at Traders, you wanted it fast and I sent thru my blackberry" he shot back. This time we parted with just two words each, I - "Thank You" and he "Forget It".



LUCKY MINISTER'S SON?








HOLY MAMA MOSES!
YES DO AWAY WITH VERNACULAR SCHOOLS.

IT'S TIME HE IS RECOGNISED

When I read that HRH Sultan of Selangor, was giving out 30 Datukships instead of the 40 intended, and only to deserving Selangor citizens who excelled, my hopes were raised that finally this Malaysian Hero, KARAMJIT SINGH @ The Flying Sikh would be in the list. I fervently hope so. He has definitely done more to put the country on the world map, in a dangersous sport and not dancing around some resort in Malacca. This reflects of course on the donor state. The Sultan of Selangor is known for his perspicacity when it comes to the bestowing of awards to recognise his subjects.

WHY DOES KARAMJIT DESERVE TO BE RECOGNISED?

Achievement and career highlights:

  • Nine (9) times Malaysian National Champion Asia Pacific Rally Champion 2004
  • World Champion (PWRC) 2002 Asia Pacific Rally Champion 2002
  • Asia Pacific Rally Champion 2001 Asia Pacific Rally Champion 2000
  • Champion Merdeka Endurance Race 2000 Thailand National Rally Champion 1998
  • Asia Pacific Production Rally Champion 1997 2002 NST-SPORTS TOTO Man of the Year
  • 2002 Malaysian Sikhs Association Man of the Year 2002 MSN National Sportsman of the Year
  • 2002/03/04 Malaysian Motor Sports Man of the Year Works driver – KST Ralliart China 2006-07
  • Conferred SIS title by HRH Sultan of Selangor in 2003 Winner – Rally Malaysia 2006
  • Conferred AMN title by HRH King of Malaysia in 2003

Karamjit Singh is the Asia Pacific regions’ most successful rally motorsport driver ever. He has won multiple championships throughout the region and has been ranked number one in the region.

Karamjit is also among Malaysia’s top sportsmen and Malaysian Sportsman of the year in 2002. The super fast and talented Karamjit also became World Champion in the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship that year.

He was the first Asian to ever become world champion in a motorsports world championship series. Karamjit Singh is also a multiple Malaysian and Asia-

Pacific champion, driving for Team PETRONAS - PROTON. The global success of Karamjit Singh has endeared him to the Malaysian public. His every campaign

is carefully followed by various media in Malaysia. He has developed intoMalaysia’s true blue hero and role model.

Karamjit Singh is Malaysia’s best and undisputed Number One rally motorsport driver and one of the country’s top sportsmen. His mental strength, agility and driving skills have resulted in countless wins in the high speed sport of motor rallying.

Karam made his rally debut in 1986 in the Castrol Daylight Rally, thereafter spending the first two years of his remarkable career competing and winning local rallies as a privateer. Karamjit then later joined the Petronas Eon Racing Team (PERT), a super successful partnership which through the years has propelled him to achieve extraordinary feats in motorsports.

His best performance to date came in 2002, when he achieved the rare and historic feat of winning both the World Production Car Rally Championship and Asia Pacific Championship title in the same year, a feat never before achieved and not yet matched to date. He is the only driver ever to collect two prizes for two different FIA championships at the FIA awards gala in Monaco.

His dedicated approach and rigidly religious focus on his driving has earned him the respect of the global motorsports fraternity. The unassuming, disciplined and always devoted Karamjit Singh, whose other passion is golf, is always feverishly challenging himself to outdo his last milestone with the ultimate goal of pitting his skills and winning against the world’s best, the attribute of a true professional world class sportsman.

Karamjit Singh is the 2007 Malaysian National Champion and currently competing in the 2008 Malaysian National Rally Championship, leading the championship outright, with two rounds completed. He intends to return to the WRC and APRC in 2009, sponsorship funds permitting.

Recently a Malaysian company Fusion Excel International donated RM20,000 towards this.



But it has never been roses all the way. Trouble in the form of lack of sponsors reared its ugly head in 2005.

Karamjit shipped his Proton PERT to New Caledonia in hopes of competing in the rally but was forced to pull out last minute because he could not secure enough sponsors for the event. Even the FIA was understanding in this matter, because they knew Karamjit’s team was facing financial difficulties, they had subsidised the participation fees for the rally. After all, last year’s defending champion had to defend his title right? That was what FIA was thinking. But Karamjit was still short of cash for mechanics and tyres.

Karamjit will not be participating in the current round, Round 3, which is in Rotorua, New Zealand on the 17th and 19th. Round 4 would be in Hokkaido Japan. But guess where is Round 5’s venue? No where else but MALAYSIA! (19-21 August 2005) It would be a shame to see that our own Flying Sikh (Karamjit’s nickname) cannot even compete in his home grounds because he could not secure sponsorship!

It’s not just about defending the APRC title. Even his career is in jeopardy now. FIA APRC’s rules state that he has to finish 6 out of the 8 races, otherwise he could be fined up to USD3000 per race. Last year he got first place for 4 out of the 6 rounds. This time, he can’t even participate in the 6 rounds. He has only been able to get enough money to run 3 rounds this year so far. In addition to the fear of the USD9000 fine (3 remaining races), the FIA could suspend his license. They can suspend my licence. If I am under suspension, how am I going to earn a living?” said Karamjit.

Karamjit has already had offers from two foreign manufacturer teams for him to drive for them. He is seriously considering the options now since his own country seems uninterested in the fact that he has made Malaysia proud in the international rally circles. Initial discussions with them have already begun.

My first choice will be to continue driving for a Malaysian-backed team. That was the reason for staying with the Petronas Eon Racing Team (PERT) for the last 17 years. But the team will cease operations at the end of the year. Getting sponsors have been the big problem. If there is sponsorship overseas, why should I discard the opportunity?” said Karamjit in an article in The Star.

Karamjit, besides Nicole David, is the only other really good world champion we have. Please don’t force him to look overseas and make some other country/car manufacturer proud instead of our country. REMEMBER VIJAY SINGH WHO DETHRONED TIGER WOODS? Don’t kill him (Karamjit)off.

Karamjit had actually been contemplating to race for an overseas-based factory team in 2005 but he did not, for reasons which I will assume to be patriotism. Bad decision?




BAD, BADDER, BADDEST.

BAD


Of course this clown is history now. He has lost this Bad. Badder, Baddest race. He has learnt, although too late that people remember only the filth you use and the shouting in Parliament, that they miss whatever you were trying to say....which most of the time is nothing. Even now, he laments that the BN government has not built roads in his constituency. See, stupid, the BN remembers your foul language and your loud-mouthing.....they did not hear you asking for roads.

It has been rumored that he might cross-over. I am starting a novena that Pakatan Rakyat reject any overtures he may be making. We need the likes of him to remain in BN to destroy the coalition.



BADDER

When Sabah and Sarawak finally woke up to the fact that if not for them, the BN would have been history they began their tribal war dance wagged their little fingers at BN. BN got frightened over stories of shrunken heads etc. But the BN supreme council was discerning about the posts to give these cry-babies. They god rid of the drift-wood speaker from Perak and bestowed the positions on two Sabahans. Speaker (don't even remember his name) and Deputy Speaker with clear instructions. SPEAK less, OBJECT more. Everything was spelt out for them. They were to only use words like: not relevant; not important, not urgent. So fluent these speakers. It is because of this that they breed the



BADDEST
(does his children follow proceedings in Parliament....what a father!)

FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE:

Parliament: Ministry wants to close Tajuddin ‘sexist’ issue

By LEE YUK PENG

KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry wants to close the issue of sexual connotations made by Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN–Pasir Salak) as the Chair has already made a ruling on it.

Its Deputy Minister Noriah Kasnon said on Wednesday she regretted that lewd remarks were made by men in the House.

“I will inform the minister (Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen), who is away for three weeks,’’ she said when winding up on behalf of the ministry.

Several MPs, including men, had voiced their dissatisfaction while debating on the ministry.

Noriah was referring to an exchange of words between Tajuddin and Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (PAS–Parit Buntar) during a motion filed by Teo Nie Ching (DAP–Serdang) to cut RM10 from the salary of the Education Minister on Nov 26.

While asking for a chance to interject, Tajuddin asked: “Tak masuk lagi? (Not in yet?)”

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee, who was presiding then, told Tajuddin: “Dia tak bagi (He does not want to give way).”

Tajuddin then said: “Dia tak masuk lagi? Dah lama tak masuk-masuk. Main tepi saja. (Still not in after so long? Just playing by the side.)

Mujahid then told Tajuddin to be patient.

Tajuddin then asked: “Bila nak keluar lagi air dia? (When are you going to get wet?)

Fong Po Kuan had asked the Chair for a ruling on Nov 27and the Chair replied that he needed to refer to the Hansard.

A few days later, Tajuddin, while debating on the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry, said he hated himself for uttering those words.

The following day, the Chair ruled that since he had apologised, it would no longer pursue the matter.

Earlier, Tajuddin had also uttered the word “b*****d” (on Nov 5) and “k*****” (on Nov 26) against M. Kulasegaran (DAP–Ipoh Barat) and “biul” (stupid) against Azmin Ali (PKR–Gombak) on Nov 26.

YOU JUDGE THE QUALITY OF THE HOME,
NOT BY THE FURNITURE,
BUT BY THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN THE HOUSE.
GO FIGURE......

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

TIS' THE SEASON FOR GIVING

The landfill in Payatas, The Philippines, is notoriously known the
world over as Smokey Mountain. For over 35 years, the smoking dump
site has grown to become a stark and heart-tugging reminder of the
desperate conditions of humanity.

On a daily basis, children pick through newly arrived garbage to

collect material to sell. The earnings made by one child are not
enough to even buy food for the day. Hence, entire families are forced
to climb the mountain each day, hoping to earn enough to feed
everyone. Children as young as four years old are forced to work in
this daily struggle for survival.

In response to the plight of these children, Totedaddy.com is working

with Lighthouse Center For Children Foundation to bring a little cheer
to the children this Christmas.
Totedaddy.com has kicked off with a cash sponsorship of USD 10,000 to
enable the children to celebrate Christmas. FusionExcel International
has also pitched in a USD 5,000 in cash sponsorship. The money raised
will help fund the projects already in place, and help fund additional
projects aimed at providing better housing, and a means of livelihood
for the Payatas community.

It is hoped that by creating better awareness to the plight of these

children, more support can be garnered towards their betterment.
 Together we can bury poverty!



Bringing Hope: From left: Matthew Ting, CEO of ToteDaddy; Paul Ting, CEO of FusionExcel Internation (a Malaysian Company) Judge Lorenzo B Veneracion of Lighthouse Center For Children Foundation, Zorah Andam, former Miss Philippines and runner-up Miss Universe.

Please visit Christmas For Payatas for more info and to make a donation. Every bit counts.




Tuesday, December 2, 2008

NO TO ISA vs YES TO ISA

Last night I accompanied Pete and Marina, Visu, lawyers Chandra and Amarjit to the Forum: No to ISA at the Bar Council. What was interesting was that when we came out ofter the forum a "Yes to ISA" group was gathered across the road. They were about 30 strong. What was also interesting was that a group of ladies and I told diminutive Ariff Abdull that he WILL not allow himself to be arrested again. He promised us that. Thus I exited the auditorium.

Back to the road. About some 50 yards away the cops were around. The did not ask the "YES" crowd to disperse UNLESS unbeknown to us they were given a permit. Incidentally the whole of Dataran Merdeka was cordoned off and of course traffic jams occurred on the other roads.

For those of you who were not able to attend the forum, here is Pete's take last night:


For a live take on what the YES men (after Activist Amin "Black" Iskandar)had to say go to PEOPLE'S PARLIAMENT.

YOU CAN'T PLEASE THEM ALL, CAN YOU?

On Sunday, I posted a story on Shay. It had no undertones. No politics, no religion. It was about a disadvantage kid who played a game of baseball. But that little story opened up a can of worms.....and from you know where:

Anonymous lennon the lemon said...

sounds like a pakatan plotted story lah zorro.you and your sick mind games.why dont you write something about smoking pot and woodstock!whats that you put there in your pipe anyway?

December 2, 2008 1:22 PM


+++++

Anonymous Kamal Barsha said...

hahaha nice story..
just like peter pan..think happy thoughts..then can flyyyyy..

December 2, 2008 5:50 PM

+++++

Anonymous Pewaris Keris said...

Dont mess with Islam and Malay Rights. We are not alone

http://www.tranungkite.net/v7/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=18803

December 2, 2008 6:02 PM

+++++

But these are the only three cans of worms thrown at Shay......the majority of the 31 comments were Malaysians who were TOUCHED by Shay. What does that tell you......there is hope because these majority rah-rah people say that the Malaysian glass is half full.....and only three boo-boo boys say it is half empty.

Some of those who were TOUCHED:

Anonymous pakshah said...

Very moving story sir.
I have a son with somewhat similar traits (he's Down syndrome).
Have a nice Shay Day.

November 30, 2008 7:03 PM

+++++

Anonymous Shariff said...

You left me with misty eyes...If only our society cares...
May god bless Shay....

p/s: Zorro,this is your best...i think if you want to effect change,this is OUR common ground that we have been searching for all the years...

November 30, 2008 7:37 PM

+++++

Blogger Gary Chee said...

It's really a wonderful story. Almost made me shed to tears.

May everyone's day a Shay day.

November 30, 2008 8:26 PM

+++++

Anonymous julian said...

hey bro
i hope you dont mind it but i sent this to my daughter in perth.
buy you a malt when i come up there in three weeks------i stopped drinking make sure we go somewhere i can get coffee o of fresh fruits.

November 30, 2008 8:48 PM

+++++

Anonymous susan loone said...

Uncle Zorro!
This story brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for making my day!

November 30, 2008 9:15 PM

+++++

Blogger Argus Eye said...

I have no idea whether this is a fiction served for inspiration or is it a true story.

Whichever it may be, it did create an impact. And i believe i can speak for most readers on this one.

A good read for sure. But i hope it goes beyond that. Ideal stories are often heard of, but hardly witnessed.

We surely will, when the ISA is abolished.

December 1, 2008 3:42 AM

+++++

Anonymous K W Waran said...

Thanks Bro' Zorro.

Bro' Argus Eye, I have read a strikingly similar story before with the only difference being the Game those boys played. But, besides what those boys kindly did, they were indeed the winners that day despite losing the game.

Folks, what touched me most, personally, was the final factual statement in that story that I read that God puts an Underprivileged amongst us and many assume that the under-privileged person is being tested when the actual subject/s of the Almighty's test are the people around that underprivileged person, WE.

Take care, Folks.

December 1, 2008 8:54 AM

+++++

Anonymous wandererAUS said...(From Australia)

Zorro, we have been stuffed with all the rotten and selfish politicking for many good months. How refreshing and touching your story of Shay...there's still hope and when there is hope, we will always find love. "Love is nature's way of giving and a reason for living"
As a retiree, I have faith and trust in our younger generations to do the right thing.
Please feed our young minds with more story of compassion and love.

December 1, 2008 8:56 AM

+++++

Anonymous J. D. Lovrenciear said...

Sir,

A great, inspiring and timely story beyond question for ALL Malaysians.

REQUEST: Now, can ALL bloggers PLEASE take this piece by Zorro and upload prominently on your sites -- just in case decision makers and the 'great' Parliament bawdies miss this opportunity to LEARN.

December 1, 2008 9:01 AM

+++++

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Zorro,

For a father of a special needs boy, your story indeed a very happy one. Thanks for sharing.

ChoonLee

December 1, 2008 1:26 PM

+++++

Anonymous doinkers said...

I cried when i read it. Thanks for sharing.

December 1, 2008 2:58 PM

+++++
Blogger Cruzeiro said...

Yes, Bernard!

Democracy is the rule of the majority.
Its true test though, is in its ability to protect its minorities and the weak.

December 1, 2008 4:32 PM

+++++

Blogger anti-illuminati said...

Ucl Zorro,
Great story but sadly Malaysians in general will never get the moral of this story.

December 2, 2008 11:02 AM

Anti-illuminati......you predicted the three can of worms above....syabas.

I AM THROWING BACK THESE THREE CANS OF WORMS
AT YOU KNOW WHO
WITH A WISH:

HAVE A NICE SHAY DAY

AND

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS.