Monday, July 28, 2008

Lobster Crazy


I'm crazy in love with lobsters lately. But what struck me today was, not everyone will be able to afford eating lobster while I have the guts to say that would it be nice to eat lobster every week if not everyday.

Some unfortunate people would consider shrimp or small prawns as their 'lobsters'. I am such a bad person.

I feel so bad now. :(

Note: Giant spiny lobster sashimi in Gold Coast. Yes, the lobster was still alive while we were gleefully eating its body.

Friday, July 25, 2008

London Restaurant Reviews

Prince of Wales, Willesden Lane
The name might be a bit deceiving, but it is no doubt a new Malay restaurant in London. I had the chance to have it first hand for the first time with Reza and Azeem and I was craving for the Nasi Goreng Pattaya. It was full-filling. But the best part is ALL DUCK IS HALAL!! So we ordered the Crispy Duck Starter (but then became our dessert due to slow preparation). It was fantastic! We couldn't get to try it at CnR as it is not halal but the Crispy Duck was superb. From our observation we can say that this is an alternative to Bonda Cafe/Nahar featuring the old beau Nabila as one of the assistants. The price is cheap compared to other Malaysian restaurants. Recommended!

Lobster and crab at CnR, Bayswater
I was looking for a nice place to eat lobster as I was craving for it yesterday. I wanted to try Fishworks but the 25pounds price tag put me off. Me and Mariko had lunch at CnR and we ordered the lobster with garlic, shrimp and spices and the crab in chillies. The waiter told us it's too big of portion for skinny us but we insisted on it. And it paid off! The lobster was one of the best I've ever tasted that cost only 19pounds and it was big. We got a discount on the crab as they could only serve us a smaller crab and it was worth every penny. The gravy was fantastic and I only need one cup of Jasmine rice to have my stomach full the whole day, en route to watching Dark Knight in O2 Greenwich with Mariko, Arwin and Azeem. If you are looking for a lobster day out in London, CnR is the answer!


Fine dining at One O One, Park Hotel, Knightsbridge
We had our first fine dining thanks to Hell's Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay for promoting it in the series. I chose this restaurant because it serves the Norwegian King Crab from the Barents Sea, the most expensive meat per kilogram. Since it was fine dining, I was pessimistic that it could make us full. For 30pounds per person we had a 3-course meal with the king crab leg thermidore as starters. Surprisingly, we didn't feel hungry until dinner. In the 3-course meal they also serve rabbit meat but of course we couldn't take that although it was very tempting for me. The only downside was that the King Crabs were made into thermidores instead of just presenting them in shells so they didn't have to look like crabsticks. Want to know how does it taste? Find out at the restaurant as it's the only restaurant in London that serves it thanks to Chef Pascal Proyart. Atleast according to me.


Man, this entry makes me hungry. Maggi for the day with crabsticks!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Najib telah bersumpah, Anwar bila lagi?

"Wallahi, Wabillahi, Wataallahi.."

Begitulah kata-kata yang dilafazkan oleh Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkenaan isu pembunuhan kejam warga Mongolia cantik jelita Altantunya Shaaribuu di mana beliau telah bersumpah tidak pernah berjumpa atau mengenali gadis itu. Ia dilakukan di hadapan 191 ahli bahagian UMNO Khamis lalu di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra.

Hampir sebulan lepas Raja Petra telah membuat akuan bersumpah (Statutory Declaration) yang isteri Datuk Seri Najib, Datin Seri Rosmah berada di tempat kejadian di mana Altantuya diletupkan hidup-hidup. Sesuatu yang saya rasa tidak selamat untuk dilakukan kerana setakat Raja Petra mendengar laporan daripada sumber yang dia percayai dan terus dia bersumpah.

Ia seolah-olah mengiyakan perbuatan gossip atau khabar angin dan terus mempercayai dan bersumpah. Seolah-olah kita dengar daripada seseorang tentang aib/fitnahan terhadap orang lain dan terus mempercayainya dan seraya bersumpah!

Kemudian wujud pula Pengakuan Bersumpah PI Bala bahawa Najib mempunyai hubungan seksual dengan wanita Mongolia itu tetapi menarik balik kemudiannya.

Isu sparring atau pertelegahan di antara bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Najib telah berjaya membuat saya berasa muak dengan keadaan politik di Malaysia. Walhal ada jalan yang sebaiknya untuk tidak mempersendakan atau memfitnah orang lain demi mendapat kuasa pemerintahan. Ini adalah perkara yang sangat memalukan dan mereka ini kesemuanya saudara Islam...

Kemudiannya kes liwat pula timbul. Bagaikan deja-vu Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim telah sekali lagi dilibatkan dengan kes liwat. Cabar-mencabar telah dibuat antara pengadu Mohamad Saiful Azlan Bahari dan Datuk Seri Anwar. Pengadu mencabar Anwar untuk bersumpah di hadapan mufti atau ulama (mubalahah) di laman web Friendster nya dan disokong oleh tunangnya.

Anwar pula berdalih dan menyatakan perlu ada empat orang saksi untuk mengesahkan bahawa isu liwat itu betul-betul berlaku.

Dalam keadaan politik fitnah yang dipelopori segelintir bloggers di Malaysia ini, saya sudah menjadi buntu sama ada mahu percaya atau tidak Anwar ini betul-betul bersalah atau tidak dalam isu liwat ini. Tidak tahu lagi untuk mempercayai siapa.

Namun, apa yang saya lihat ialah, jika benarlah Anwar tentang pendiriannya, maka mengapa takut untuk bersumpah sepertimana yang dicabar Saiful? Saya juga sendiri amat skeptik terhadap Saiful yang saya rasakan seorang pemuda yang mahu menjadi 'hero' kononnya, mahu menikam Anwar dari belakang.

Tetapi saya masih ternanti-nanti Datuk Seri Anwar bersumpah dengan Al-Quraan di hadapan saksi yang dia tidak terlibat langsung dalam isu liwat ini. Dia juga gagal memberi keterangan di balai polis mengenai isu ini dengan alasan berasa 'intimidated' dan 'harrassed' daripada pihak polis. I thought you said you are a fighter?

Berani kerana benar, Datuk Seri. Dan Allah sentiasa bersama orang yang benar. Dan jika benar Datuk Seri berkata benar, bersumpahlah dengan nama Allah. Tidak salah pun. Asalkan rakyat boleh berasa yakin terhadap apa yang kamu katakan khususnya orang-orang Islam.

Saya juga yakin setelah Datuk Seri Najib bersumpah tempoh hari, ramai umat Islam di Malaysia akan lebih yakin tentang kebenaran yang dinyatakannya. Atleast he has done something to assure the rakyat about his non-involvement in the murder case.

Anda bila lagi?

The way I see it, Najib has the upper hand now. Najib 1-0 Anwar.

Whatever it is, I still think Malaysia has got no true leaders at the moment.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

PAS joining BN and Special Secretariat

Recently, there were rumours about PAS joining Barisan Nasional since PAS Presiden Datuk Haji Hadi Awang had admitted meeting some UMNO representatives to talk about the future of Malays and Muslims in Malaysia. Frankly, I can sense the voice of younger PAS members being the driving force behind their recent triumphs in Kelantan and Kedah. Particularly being led by Husam Musa.

There was also a report on a plan to set up a special secretariat to be led by Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil. This so-called special movement was given the go-ahead by YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi to formulate strategies, visions and development programmes for Muslim women and children.

I still remember Datuk Seri Shahrizat drew up a plan called "One Wife for One Husband" (or something like that) many years ago to my fury. However I knew where it was going as she was the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development and the plan was made as an objection towards poligamy (which is allowed in Islam as long as the husband being fair to all).

With her leading this special secretariat I am not convinced that she will adhere all Islamic values based on history and I doubt that any activities that this secretariat will run will get the approval from the ulama' (clerics) or the muftis. Since when an elected minister is more knowledgeable about Islam than the muftis to head this secretariat? Will any of these activities be backed by Quraan or hadiths?

I am not going to sound like I am the ulama' here but while I still have yet to see this special secretariat's plans for the future, I need to be convinced that every single activity adheres Islamic values and principles. I don't want the sorts of Sisters-in-Islam as this group goes against the concept of jihad where everything we do, we do it for Allah (Akon - Senegal). No, I am not talking about bombing civillians because jihad is not just about going to war. I am talking about SIS trying to secularise the nation where the Western judiciary prevails.

I am also not going to sound like Raja Petra who condemns every single thing BN is trying to do for his 'obsession' towards Datuk Seri Najib. I welcome any movement from respected groups and NGOs to make Malaysia a better place where religions will play an integral part in creating good citizens. Whatever that you are trying to do, just do not go overboard, Datuk Seri Shahrizat. You are a nice person I can see that when you were polite towards my mom in Victoria Station at one time. Whatever that you want to do, take Al-Quraan and Hadiths as your guidance.

I would also welcome the likes of PAS to join Barisan Nasional although this is only speculations or simply just a dream. Why? Because I trust them on protecting Islam in my country. Their basics are based on Quraan and Hadiths and I entrust them with my heart in Islamic issues. Don't worry my friends this is not one way of Islamisation if you are so afraid of that word (blame that stupid racist Dutch Minister who came out with Fitna' the movie). Let me convince you that the way I see it, there is nothing wrong with Islamisation as the rights of Non-Muslims will also be protected. It is just sad how some of the JAKIM officers big or small handled some cases that even made into the front page of local media.

For example the 'body-snatching' issue. I hate that word 'body-snatching'. Nobody snatched nobody's body! The Syariah Court has decided to bury the late Elangesaran and Moorthy the Islamic way because they were confirmed Muslims as they registered themselves with JAKIM to convert to Islam. It was unfortunate that they failed to let the families know. But come on, I thought you should love your husband/father/son as they are. I have my respect for Moorthy's brother as he accepted it and went to Moorthy's funeral. Actually, this shouldn't be an issue at all. The Syariah Court should have addressed the public and shown evidence that these people had converted to Islam.

And yes there is one Constitution stating that any Islamic matters should be handled by the Syariah Court. But why some lawyers (who are actually good lawyers) failed to understand the Federal Constitution?

I guess PAS people are good at this kind of things. Atleast they are brave enough to stand up for Islam and not so doing it for 'marketing' and in search for power only. It is not new that some of those so-called Muslim Malays in UMNO drank liquor and bang escorts inside or outside the country. (Sodomise?) Some even made their children eat and learn from dirty bribe money. With the presence of PAS people in BN maybe it can change that culture in UMNO so that the members will be more decent and have better moral values and ethics. So that people like Ustaz Perdaus should have never asked that 12 Million Ringgit lobby money from my father's friend for one single project.... (or kick that ballot boxes when he lost his seat in Parliment *chuckles*)

And yeah, the politics of Malaysia will be back to a stable condition. Not as volatile as this!

Ah, another one of Jeg's dream?

Friday, July 11, 2008

PSD got it wrong with new quota

I frankly believe that the Public Service Department has made a mistake shedding the Bumiputra quota for scholarship from 90% to 50%. While I welcome any changes by the PSD to increase more quota for Non-Bumis for the sake of fairness, but the new 50-45-5 quota is set to be lambasted by the Bumiputras.

They argued that the new quota should resemble the current proportion of the Malaysian population based on races. However, they have failed to realise that there are still significant wealth gaps between each races comprised of the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans and others.

Therefore, I truly believe the new quota is unfair.

What they should focus is on how they can offer the scholarships to the needy ones. While there are so many bright students of different backgrounds and races it is crucial that PSD should find these students who are seen to be worthwhile.

Students with super rich parents should be excluded from getting the scholarship. Plus, I believe the 5% (stated as 'lain-lain' or Others) in the quota is referred to the PSD officers' children. This is seen as fine for me as long as their children meets the academic criteria deemed as excellent. For example, atleast 8As in SPM. They have been practising this 'quota' unofficially but it is proven that some of their children who received the PSD scholarships did not receive excellent results. Therefore, there should be a strict guideline towards giving the scholarships to PSD officers' children.

Or maybe just scrap the idea altogether! If their children need the scholarships just follow the process like everybody else. Favouritism will only breed corruption!

There are some complaints in the press about excellent students not been given scholarships by the PSD. Well, for me there is nothing that the PSD can hide from and tell the people why these students were rejected. They might have got rejected because of their poor performance in interviews. Maybe some of them don't even know how to speak English or Malaysian Language. Just let them know to shut them up. Do it publicly if you want.

Another matter they need to concentrate on is the contract. They have to be clear about the future of the scholars regarding where/what they will be doing after they graduated. Anyone who breaches the contract should be blacklisted altogether and the guarantors should be viable to any financial obligations. They can inform immigration officers about the status of the graduates and should monitor their movements in or out of the country. The graduates were toldby the Government a few years ago that they can stay for a few years to gain qualifications and this can also be made in the contract. Anyone who goes beyond that should be sued in the Court.

Under the new quota, I believe it will affect the Bumiputras and the poor. It is not new that there are still many poor Bumiputras and Indians compared to the Chinese. Like I said earlier I have no objections towards reviewing the quota. My suggestion would be 60-40. This number can be reviewed from time to time. The 40% should do fine to the Non-Bumis currently as the economic power that the Chinese still hold and the smaller number of the Malaysian Indians populace.

Together in the years to come we can create Bangsa Malaysia as proposed in the Wawasan 2020 where the quota system can cease to exist.

Monday, July 07, 2008

I sometimes hate my race Malay

This is never new. People who know me know that I am so critical towards my own race called Melayu or the Malays. I hate my own race sometimes I wish they disown me and let me be an elf or a hobbit for that matter.

However, I do not think that hate is the issue. It shows that I am actually concerned about my race and its sometimes negative culture. Let me share with you with the things I hate about some Malays and their culture which should never even exist in them as Malays and Muslims at the first place. I do have some of these attributes and I do not know how did it get in me.

1. Laziness. I guess it's because some of we Malays feel complacent for the so-called Hak Istimewa/Bumiputra rights that is in the Malaysian Constitution. I don't blame the system but I blame the attitude of these people (me included) not taking chances and making ourselves better by studying/working hard.

2. Busuk hati kepada bangsa sendiri. Some of us cannot see other people's happiness and those other people are actually from the same race. If a Malay person is wealthy, they started to envy them like hell until they had to seek black magic in order to make the wealthy guy poor again. Santau menyantau. Liwat-meliwat. Dengki-mendengki. Tak boleh tengok orang senang sikit. Lebih sikit. Why can't you be happy for your own race? Help your own race support them! Help the poor regardless of races as well. Hate Chauvinism!

3. Lupa diri. The classic example would be Mawi. He promised to marry Ina Naim (his long-time girlfriend) after Akademi Fantasia and use the money he won for their future. Right after that they broke up citing irreconcilable differences. I wouldn't make such promises when I am not sure of something. Anything! Another example would be if they become rich, they will turn to the dark side and marry another one without taking good care of the first one. A concept which is against their Islamic faith. They once talked about charity but when they have the fortune they completely forgotten about charity.

4. Kay Poh Chee. Or gossipping. Especially the Malay women. They cannot stop gossipping. They will talk as if they know everything about the story. Especially when comes to poligamious husbands/friends. They use the power of gossipping to 'win' friends. They even talk about their own husbands/boyfriends to gain symphaty although there was nothing serious happening. They will talk as if they got first hand information but they know f*ck all. And yes, they do not care about friendships. They will not come and talk to you about the wrongs that they think you are doing but they will go and tell others to gain popularity. And then they will pretend to be your best friends. As if their lives are so perfect. Get off my back will ya? I don't remember telling you anything about my personal life you don't have the right to talk about me! You do not know the pain that I endure so F off ya motherless swines! Stop gossipping simply because you have your own personal family problems to make it look OK to you!

5. Condemning Islamic values but they call themselves Muslims. I have to blame the West for this one partly. Some Malays think the West are so cool they even condemn their own religious beliefs. For example Sisters in Islam (SIS) led by Liberalised-Westernised-Secularised Malay Muslims. They are conducting a survey on poligamy. A research on poligamy. But there is nothing wrong about the concept of poligamy as stated in the Quraan! Hello??? Do you have any other alternatives for your randy husbands? Some of us are born to be horny rabbits it's simply in our blood. You wonder why there are so many female prostitutes and few gigolos? So you prefer your husband pays for sex services and risk getting transmitable diseases like AIDS? Or maybe you want us to jerk ourselves off when you are not able? Come on don't give me that shit that sex is not all that important. What is love without sex? You talk like a Muslim but you don't actually practice what you talk. You accept all those things in the Quraan but that and you claim yourself an ulama'/cleric already? On another matter those idiots SIS say secular nation is the way. Secular means a state where religion is excluded in life. As in religion is just a PERSONAL matter. How bloody can you take away Islam from your everyday lives? Man I simply hope they repent. Meanwhile, some even glorify the work of terrorists claiming it indicated how strong we Muslims are. We will be further oppressed by oil greedy US the way I see it! Next, it's already in our Malay culture to hate poligamy despite good examples were shown by some families. Plus, the fact is that our prophet practices poligamy are you calling him a womaniser now by calling some Malay men the same thing? Wish I was born in the Saudi where poligamy is not an issue because their culture has seen it as not a serious problem. As long as the husband is fair and doesn't neglect the first wife and children and have money to support, what in the blue hell is wrong with poligamy? Then recently there is even an uprising from a small Malay community that supports gay rights and insists it must be implemented in Malaysia. Homosexuality is not right even in SCIENCE!! You telling me it's right to love but it's not like you don't have a choice. Noone made you gay but yourself! God wants you to be happy. Oh please don't give me that bullshit Abu Nawas and Alexandre the Great were homos. Since when they were my prophets for that practice to be OK? I can still understand the West going for gay rights because of their way of thinking but you Muslims? Malays plak tuh? Don't we have beautiful women we Malays? And, The West are not entirely right about everything ya nincompoop!

6. Anti-Semitic and Anti-Christian Malays. They argue that it's in the Quraan. Well read again. Islam never ask us to hate other races. In the Quraan it is only being said that we should not be friend with the Jews and Christians who go against us and humanity. i.e. Paul Wolfowitz (Anwar Ibrahim, please take note) or George W. Bush. Not any Jews or Christians. For God sake my prophets were Jews! Nabi Isa (Jesus) and Nabi Musa (Moses) were Jews. And I have Jewish friends and they don't hate Islam. They are even against Zionists who occupy Palestines and they said in Torah (Taurat) the Jews should never have their own country but to send the messages of God throughout the world! Chelsea FC were not let in by some Malays in the country. Give me break! Now they only have Tal Ben Haim do you still want to make a fuss out of it?

7. Some Malay leaders and authorities. Who are corrupt people. Who love money over the people. They can eat my dirt! These Malay leaders even said its their culture to do it. It's OK to do it rather than giving the fortune to other races. How racist. Dah lah greedy. Racist plak tu! They claim they do it for Rakyat. They do it for the Malays. To help the poor. But they have hundreds of millions in their accounts. One even tried to bring the money out from the country en route to Australia!

8. The leader wannabes. They will do anything to be the leader. They will even tarnish other people's image. They will even fitnah. They will even eat their own race. They will even ask the help of those greedy foreign admins to be the leader. For example Malacca 1511. And Perjanjian Pangkor. And even the Bendahara Pahang cases. The Sultans then SOLD our country! They preferred to be puppets as long as they get all the money. You morons have you not learn from history? This current US government are only interested about invading for resources just like before. You wonder why they invaded Iraq for NOT HAVING weapon of mass destruction but not North Korea? Coz the latter has F*CK ALL while the former has lots of oil. You can check which companies were given millions of dollars worth of oil contracts in Iraq. Man I do hope Barrack Obama will really change the current US Government foreign policies.

9. In denial. They are corrupt but claim they are not. They want to be fair but practises cronysim and nepotism. They want a change but they are not ready for a change. Look at what chaos we have now in Malaysia? Then they complain. They fear of losing what they have now. They fail to think before they decide. They hate to think. They do not think! They are too lazy to think!

P/S: Note that this entry was made under anger and disgust. So mind my language. But I don't think I have said anything wrong according to the Malay/Muslim belief. And yes I am a Malay. I am a Muslim. And I am sick of seeing these things happening in my race.

F all of you for having these attributes!

And f**k Sisters in Islam (SIS) too!