Congrats, boys and girls

Here is the list of 30 SPM 2009 top-achievers. They are awarded the inaugural National Scholarship Award.

Gladys Tan Yee Kim (SMK Green Road, Kuching)

Grace Kiew Sze-Ern (SMK Perempuan Sri Aman, Petaling Jaya),

Khadijah Ahmad Jais (SM Agama Persekutuan, Labu),

Akmal Hidayat Sabri (SMK Derma, Kangar),

Syamilah Mahali (Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, Seremban),

Amelia Lee Wei Ling (SMK Taman Melawati, Gombak),

Nur Syuhadah Muhamad (SM Sains Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, Kota Baharu)

Lai Yin Kwin (SMK Tinggi Melaka),

Corinne Gunn Huey Min (SMK Taman Melawati, Gombak),

Hu May Khei (SMK Convent, Taiping);

Muhammad Amal Aiman Mohd Yusof (MRSM Kota Baharu),

Kuah Jia Ying (SMK Bukit Jambul, Pulau Pinang),

Chean Chung Shen (SMK Methodist (ACS) Sitiawan),

Ahmad Zhafir Zulkfli@Zulkifli (SBPI Temerloh),

Goh Diangde (SMK Derma, Kangar),

Ameenah Azman (Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, Seremban),

Erin Chuah Wei Yen (SMK Seri Bintang Utara, Kuala Lumpur),

Mohamad Syukri Azmi (MRSM Kota Baharu),

Muhammad Syafiq Kamarulzaman (SBPI Selandar),

Neelam Devi Nath (SMK Buloh Kasap, Segamat);

Ooi Hui Lynn (SMK Convent Green Lane, Pulau Pinang),

Nurliyana Sanusi (MRSM Kota Baharu),

Gan Li Fang (SMK Tun Mamat, Tangkak),

Muhammad Sallehuddin Mansor (SMK Matang, Perak),

Muhammad Izzat Solihuddin (MRSM Tun Ghafar Baba),

Nurizzati Zainal Nazeri (Kolej Yayasan Saad, Melaka),

Khairunnisa Che Bahrun (Maahad Ahmadi, Tanah Merah),

Nurulaida Mohd Darus (SBPI Jempol, Negeri Sembilan),

Loh Sook Yin (SMK Tinggi St David, Melaka)

Malathy a/p Balakrishnan (SMK Ibrahim, Sungai Petani).

Now, do not mess up like I did. Make us all proud.

Some notes:

50% Malays, 43% Chinese and 7% Indians.

1 from Private School (KYSM)

2 from Sekolah Agama

9 from SBP and MRSM

The rest from Sekolah Kebangsaan

0 from SMJK

Is Nizar the One

Knowing I was going to be late, I was literally striding like an Olympian to the Pippard Lecture theatre, Imperial College to hear ex-Chief Minister of Perak, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin. However, I guess I have to get used to YBs turning up late these days, previous experience with the Seri Setia ADUN has somewhat supported this trend. Nizar was like 45 minutes late and during that time, I managed to turn my little town into a 1,000,000 populated megacity (Simcity lah!), finished off yesterday's leftover and chatted with an ACCA girl who is an avid fan of Malaysian politics.

Finally, I could see Nizar being greeted and welcomed by enthusiasts and me, wanting to keep myself calm and composed shook his hands and he asked me if I was a student here. Yes, someone thinks I look young! I'm still getting used to the fact that people do grow old and this guy here just gave me the greatest compliment I could have asked for during my torrid time as an under worked analyst in London. So far so good.

Nizar started off apolitically by reciting the verses from the Quraan, since the crowd being mostly of non-Muslims. He referred to the verse telling us not to conceal the truth and another one about loving one another of different races (Quraan 49:13). He then gave the typical greetings to the members of the floor in four different languages (Arab, English, Mandarin (I think) and Tamil) and so, the political talk has officially begun! He should have just used the Arab version "Assalaamualaikum" to everyone me thinks.

I am not going into acute details about the things he mentioned because he was basically repeating himself (just like Zambry the last time) and you can find them in blogs and alternative news portals. However, I will point out the fun, crazy, unusual things from the talk. For a start, when he was elaborating on the Perak issue yada-yada-yada, I may be the only one from the audience who realised he gave us the middle finger each time he was adjusting his spectacles! I kid you not and I'm not writing to sensationalise! I almost exploded with laughter when people were like so serious listening to the usual bits, Nizar, quite innocently and unintentionally was giving it, WWE The Rock style. LOL.

Okay okay maybe I needed to concentrate more. I wanted to see if the Facebook quiz "Which Malaysian Leader are You?" was accurate with my result being "Datuk Seri Nizar". First thing that I learned about this guy was that he is not a lembik puppet as many anti-Pakatan people perceive. The other day Anwar Ibrahim also had a talk in London and he hypocritically quoted "I may have a bad back, but I have a backbone!" but for Nizar's case, he did really seemed to be one firm leader with a massive backbone! His arguments were strong, bold and honest. He even answered my simple but tricky question quite well by stating how he is strongly against the act of 'froggies', more formally 'party defection'. "It is an act of betrayal to the people!". Some Pakatan leaders are calling these defectors names (frogs, kataks, traitors, shi-oots who only help cleanse the party) but at the same time defending the Westminister-style Constitution that allows ship-jumping and endorsing and agreeing to the failed 16th Sept 2008 party deception (not defection) when asked. That's no backbone if you ask me and there was no evidence at that time that I could find Nizar being in support of party defections even from the Bota ADUN's (I used to be playing football with his kids) double-jump ship as all I could remember was Anwar, Anwar and Anwar being on the ADUN's side.

Sure or not, Jeg? Unfortunately, Nizar has forgotten that he himself welcomed the Bota ADUN to PKR and claimed there were three more UMNO men jumping into the Perak coalition in 2009. "They came forward to us without us inviting them."

Well, you could have said "No, it is an act of betrayal to the people! Go away!"

At least for strongly against the principles of party crossover even if it was constitutional, Karpal Singh and I have got the rights to condemn these defectors. Pot calling the kettle... Made in China? (I need to avoid being anti-Afro and support China products by not using the standard version of the idiom).

"Harus bertaubat!"

Okay now, we all now know Nizar is not a DAP's puppet, evidently from his track record, helping people not based on colour or religion. We know he is a qualified engineer and was English educated (Aston University, Birmingham). He is quite new in politics and one guy asked why did he enter politics. "Because I see there is some injustice and I feel I need to correct this." He is also a religious man with a multi-ethnic background (father is Malay, mother is Chinese). He is quite a strong, firm leader as we all know with a bit sense of humour. His economics agenda and willingness to work with the current Perak government seem like a good idea. What else did I miss?

Well, being quite a particular kind of guy, I did not find that many faults in his speech compared to Anwar's couple of days earlier. I think he did quite well apart from being hypocritical about party defections and Zambry bashing. However, there is only ONE and only ONE part that I could not absorb. I still think it's a minor issue but it is worth mentioning here just to provoke the minds of you guys. He started his speech by quoting the verse of the Quraan clearly reminding us not to conceal the truth. Towards the end of his talk, Nizar said:

"For whatever reasons you read on the blogs, regarding why the Sultan has not dissolve the State Assembly, despite what the Sultan himself wrote in his book, don't believe them!"

"Maybe the Perak Sultan wants to protect his business?" asked an Ah Pek.

"The reason is far more beyond that. The Sultan already has everything under the sun. Like I said, don't believe whatever you read on the blogs regarding this."

I was dumbfounded myself. Nizar was not telling. He gave the impression he knew the reason. Why is he now concealing the truth?

I want to know the reason! Help!!! If you are reading this, Datuk Seri, please get me out of this niggling misery. Look for me on Facebook and Twitter and tell me the reason in private message. I swear I will not tell a soul!

Maybe it's just mind games. Politicians...

Jeg Hui

Local Council Election (a ReTweet)

1. Local council election, yes or no? Indifferent. We living in the UK agree the local council (elected) here is just like Msia gov servants about 2 hours ago via Twitterrific

2. Local government election in penang is a political way to get rid of Gerakanised, BN kaw-timmed councillors and planting their own... about 2 hours ago via Twitterrific

3. The newly elected councillors, obviously will be easier to deal with for the new state gov. Throughout time, they also kaw tim. Juz like BN about 2 hours ago via Twitterrific

4. So it's no surprise other PR led states will follow suit, like Selangor. BN led states will reject local gov election to keep their 'frens' about 2 hours ago via Twitterrific

5. This is simple logic. However the hardcores frm both PR n BN will not see this. They're blinded by the team they support, this is normal too about 2 hours ago via Twitterrific

Imperial College Malaysian Night 2010

1. It was a last minute decision to have finally gone to a Malaysian Night for years already. The last time I went, Iedil was still around, entertaining us with his spontaneous acts on stage in the UCL Malaysian Night, never failed to make an old man smile.

2. I really think the Imperial College Malaysian boys and girls did a great job. Very talented people. I was sceptical at first but along the way, they finally made this old man smile.

3. The title was Born to be Vile and the only song that I thought could be associated with it was "Born to be Wild" by Steppin Wolf... and I was right, that song did come out during the interval, and it made this old man smile.

4. All in all, it was a good performance. Singaporean diss was a classic, but received some boos from a section of Singaporean friends. 3.5 stars out of 5. That's good from a grumpy old man me.

5. However, I did notice the number of Chinese Malaysians performing is far greater than other Malaysians. I could only count 3 Malays and 3 Indians (one was really funny imitating Karam Singh Walia). My thought on this is fair because I assume it is due to Imperial College having more Chinese Malaysians than other Malaysians for their Undergraduate Programmes.

6. I might be wrong. Any Imperial College students want to object please do.

7. However, sadly, all good things must have a flaw... and this flaw I'm about to tell you spoilt everything that night (apart from Aaron Ramsey's horrific injury).

8. It was during an interval, a local British lady was asking her Malaysian Chinese friend a simple question. "Why are they all Chinese?" Like me, she was just curious of the number of Malaysian Chinese overpowering other Malaysians like Malays, Indians, Kadazans, Muruts and Ibans.

9. Her Malaysian friend simply said spontaneously, "Because they can speak English".

10. I was shocked; I looked at him, and quickly turned away. I still cannot understand there are still Malaysians out there even in the UK, even during this harmonious Malaysian Night, could be belittling other races.

11. I didn't want to make a scene that night by confronting that boy who clearly has issues with Non-Chinese. It would be a big scene since I am a Non-Chinese and my words can be very hurtful to the core for the racists.

12. I wanted to clarify to the British lady who was misinformed. However I think she is not that naive to know other Malaysians can speak English as well, like the Indian girl who was playing the daughter of the detective and the Malay Datin Kelentong.

Official: Zaid Ibrahim Blocks Me on Twitter

Here are the comments I made mentioning/replying to @zaidibrahim on Twitter.

His retaliation? Block @jeghui on Twitter!

You can find the evidence of blocking here: http://img110.yfrog.com/i/euxn.jpg/

Just because people disagree doesn't mean you are that bad. Don't worry. You are not God!