Makan angin, YB?

Sudah lama agaknya tidak menulis dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Terpanggil pula untuk mengarang dalam bahasa tercinta ini. Almaklumlah, sudah agak lama berjauhan dari negara kelahiran. Lagipun elok juga berlatih menulis dalam bahasa ibunda ini agar tidak kekok apabila pulang ke tanah air nanti.

Saya baru-baru ini telah menerima sepotong undangan melalui kiriman e-mel ke Perasmian 'Friends of Pakatan Rakyat'. Bulat-bulat saya sudah tolak pelawaan itu. Bukanlah apa, sekadar mengingatkan diri agar tidak menyebelahi mana-mana parti politik dalam waktu ini. Teringat juga ketika dahulunya saya dijemput bermain pertandingan bola sepak dan berkali-kali saya memberitahu pihak UMNO London supaya tidak mempolitikkan sukan. Dalam masa yang sama, semua rakyat Malaysia di kota si hidung tinggi berkaki panjang ini akan lebih berminat untuk bermain tanpa dicop 'orang UMNO'.

Saya ada bertanyakan saudari Nurul Izzah secara sinis adakah Parti Keadilan Rakyat kini sudah begitu kaya sampaikan program ini perlu dianjurkan di dunia asing ini? Beliau begitu cepat membalas secara 'defensive', bak kata orang putih, dengan menyatakan 'tiada siapa yang paksa saya hadir ke majlis itu'. Sabar-sabar lah kakak oi! Baru dicuit sedikit, terus mahu melatah? Saya ini bukan siapa-siapa pun. Cuma seorang rakyat Malaysia yang risau jika gelombang baru ini kini mahu mengikuti perangai gelombang lama pula.

Lagipun kami di sini tidak mengundi pun. Malah, kami tidak membayar cukai kepada kerajaan Malaysia pun. Yang bekerja di sini, tidak boleh mengundi pun.

Jadi, saya cuma nak tahu. Adakah berbaloi kehadiran para Yang Berhormat di sini untuk rakyat di Malaysia? Bukannya saya nak halang. Cuma takut-takut perangai suka jalan-jalan makan angin 'oversea' ini menyelinap masuk pula dalam badan 'suci dan murni, nyah korupsi' tuan-tuan dan puan-puan pula.

Dahulu bukan main mengutuk gelombang lama suka berjalan makan angin pakai duit rakyat, membeli-belah Dolce Gabbana, Gucci atau Prada. Kumpulan berbadan tegap berkaca mata hitam kiri dan kanan pun mendapat saguhati masing-masing seperti topi GAP. Walaupun murah di waktu 'Summer Sale' ini, janji GAP, bukan GAGAP buatan Indonesia. Tetapi selalu sangat gelombang baru ini hadir di sini. Apakah tujuan sebenarnya?

Macam saya cakap, bukannya tak bagi... Tapi cerita-lah supaya rakyat yang mahu keadilan dan perubahan ini tahu yang gelombang baru ini bukannya dua kali lima. Apabila ditanya, yang mampu dijawab ialah "apa jawapan sekalipun nampaknya tak memadai untuk saudara. Tentunya banyak lagi yg dirancang".

Mengapa begitu 'defensive'? Apa yang mahu disorokkan? Saya ini bukanlah seorang ahli SB, PERKASA atau UMNO. Walaupun nama ayah saya Abu Hassan, tetapi beliau bukanlah bekas Menteri Besar Selangor. Jika rakyat tanya soalan yang susah-susah sedikit, cepat pula melatah dan ada menganggap kami ini 'khadam' atau penyokong UMNO pula. Habis tu, takkan nak setuju sahaja dengan gelombang baru ini seperti sang memerang dungu?

Sambil menyelam, minumlah air. Ya, seperti seekor memerang!

Jikalau hadir semata-mata kerana 'Friends of Pakatan Rakyat' yang bakal dirasmikan di kota yang gah, hebat, penuh riang-ria London ini, maka apakah faedah kepada rakyat di Malaysia yang membayar zakat, cukai dan mengundi? Apakah 'Greater Kuala Lumpur' tidak cukup hebat seperti 'Greater London' yang sebenarnya agak 'dodgy'?

Setakat detik ketika ini, YB Nurul Izzah masih gagal menjawab soalan ikhlas saya di Twitter.

Azrul Abu Hassan @ Jeg Hui

IPhone 4 Malaysia

I was informed IPhone 4 will only arrive in Malaysia around September 2010 or even later.

I am glad to bring home the latest IPhone for you (Malaysian customers only) as we are allowed to reserve the phones tomorrow (15th June 2010) and collect them on the 24th June 2010 in the UK.

The phone will come factory unlocked! These phones are available only from UK, France and Canadia Apple stores.

UPDATE: Prices are RM2799 for 16GB and RM3299 for 16GB. Black only, SIM-FREE. (Never locked to carriers).

Prices are rated based on previous IPhone (3GS) sale price from Maxis Malaysia.

You can also pay in pounds (16GB - £549, 32GB - £649) via paypal to overmars91(at)hotmail.com.

Updated Delivery: by hand 12th August 2010. (KL)

If you are interested, send me an email at jeghui(at)hotmail.com together with your details.

Or reach me at Twitter or Facebook.

Kind regards,

Azrul @ Jeg Hui

More details on the new IPhone 4 HERE.

Update: Prices explained:

I am very sure my prices are fair. Remember the price of IPhone 3GS 16GB from Maxis store being RM2490? Well, in the UK IPhone 3GS 16GB at the same time was £449.

So now, here's a chance for you to own the new IPhone 4 at a price rated to the old 3GS. IPhone 4 16GB is being sold here from the Apple Store, never unlocked for £499, a difference of £50.

£50 times the current exchange rate, that's about RM2750 + deal cost.

As a first time businessman, it would be such a disasterous start if I were being unfair to the customers.

Azrul reserves the right to charge cancellation or other 3rd party fees.

RPK not in Trinity Court

I was actually really looking forward for that colourful Saturday with a total of four events about to fill in the life of a bachelor in London. The day literally kicked off with some kick abouts in Hyde Park with the guys and after wiping off perspiration left and right (and underneath), I rushed to the BPP Law School in Holborn for the Raja Petra Kamarudin's talk.

I had about half-a-dozen questions to ask him. I have been critical about his controversial, tabloid-like articles in this blog but was ready to hear what he was going to say with an open mind. RPK, together with his wife and beautiful daughter Nabila (not her real name) was greeting the guests outside as I managed to creep into the packed hall under the watchful eye of three or four bodyguards.

The session started with a video footage of RPK's wife about to receive RPK from his ISA release but it was cut short so that the man of the day could start his eagerly waited speech. He did not start well in my opinion, since he was only repeating whatever you can find in his blog regarding his detention and all. I was not impressed myself as I wanted to hear something new, something inspiring and neutral. However, the first part of the talk had a turn of event with a question that stunned most of the crowd who were his hardcore fans.

"What is the 'difference' between you and Anwar who chose to stay in Malaysia to face the trial but you... are here?"

Okay. That should balance the atmosphere a bit. After a lenghty explanation, RPK insisted that he only wanted a fair trial where the late Augustine Paul should not be in the team of judges. He also added he was actually inspired by Sun Tzu to bring the 'enemies' into his own territory, to have a fair trial here in the UK.

However, I am more of a Malay than a Sun Tzu follower that I still believe in 'berani kerana benar'. Saying that though, I am quite sceptical about Malaysian judiciary independence in which I wholly understand why the seasoned man is running away. Come on, the man has gone through ISA twice now and he is not even a communist. (the reason why ISA was established by the late Tun Abdul Razak is to fight terrorism, communism).

But still, my stand is forever like this: You can say and write whatever you want but you must be responsible for them. You should at least include some references especially when your blog hits is like half a million a month! And don't make me start on cowardly acts of anonymity like Kelantanese 'Abdul Noni bin Mus' on this blog. If you want to say something, just say it. Be brave. Stand up and speak up. But take full responsibility for whatever that you have said.

Then the Q&A received quite a blow by hardcore commentaries (instead of asking RPK a question) with one even accusing the Malaysian government of targeting his long troubled son. But I must say, RPK did well to end the session, at least for the neutrals. He reiterated his desire to witness Malaysia achieve great things with an efficient check and balance system. He recalled how he lost a lot of followers because of his suggestion of a unity government after March 2008.

"I was even called a Trojan horse sent by UMNO!" RPK claimed. In my opinion, those followers merely do not understand the concept of unity government, something that we have now in the UK when the Conservatives clinched a deal with the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition in order to be a more stable government. David Cameron (Conservatives) is the new Prime Minister of United Kingdon and Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats) is his deputy.

"What's wrong with having a BN Prime Minister and a PR Deputy Prime Minister? (vice versa). No one should be given absolute power. If Pakatan were to take over in March 2008, (I fear) it could have been even worse for Malaysia!" RPK said, reaffirming his dream for a more independent, balanced Malaysia. I wanted to give RPK a monkey jump-clap like the one the hardcore 'uncre' (uncle) in front of me gave earlier but lets not spoil the moment shall we?

Finally, RPK has shown the neutral side of him since the first half of the session was more one sided. All the half dozen of questions I wanted to ask him were answered without me having to put up my hand and ask. That was the moment I was waiting for and I finally sincerely gave him a round of applause as the session ended.

All in all it was a time well spent. To be honest, I was quite disappointed with the crowd since only about 10% of them were Malays and most being hardcore partisan. I still do not approve RPK though for some of his writings which are more coffee shop chat or Mastika-like tales than credible information (the statutory declaration he made for example). I am still sticking to my stand that ISA should not be abolished but rather amended to only detain terrorists by specifically mentioning the terms of practice.

However, I respect RPK for his bravery and vision. Plus, he is still trying his best to be as impartial as possible even if he was misunderstood and mistreated by one side. In fact, he is not affiliated with any political parties although there is a question mark over his financial backers.

Uncle Pet(ra), do you mind telling us who they are?

p/s: RPK denies residing in Trinity Court, Paddington as suggested by some... and I believe him.

Blogging from IPhone

Hello everyone. I'm just gonna use this space to test this app iblogger to see if it works.

Have a good Friday and say no to misleading reports to sensationalise!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Zaid for Hulu Selangor?

I have had enough hoping for a stronger Opposition coalition when PKR, with the likes of supreme leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim making serious blunders and bloopers by slapping his own face yet again. To add insult to the wound when a handful of PKR leaders left the party, the rakyat are given another false hope that Pakatan Rakyat will seriously focus on the needs of the rakyat under the "Ketuanan Rakyat" agenda propagated by the coalition.

With Zaid Ibrahim chosen as PKR's candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, it has given an impression that he was actually handpicked by Anwar himself so that the Opposition coalition will have a stronger and bolder voice in the Parliament from someone who was a former Minister with vast experience inside UMNO. PKR Vice President Azmin Ali is rumoured to be fuming over the suggestion that Zaid will succeed Anwar at the highest party level if not Pakatan as Zaid's more liberal minded way of thinking suits the spirit of Pakatan Rakyat. Sadly, the Hulu Selangor by-election has become what we call just a mere passage for them to achieve this.

If Anwar does care about the rakyat, a local from Hulu Selangor should be chosen instead. Or atleast someone who genuinely cares about the Hulu Selangor constituents. Not another parachute candidate!

I have nothing personal against Zaid despite him blocking me on Twitter for no apparent reason. The main reason I 'follow' Malaysian leaders on Twitter is surely NOT because I am submissive or blindly agreeing to them like they are gods and titans. I follow them on Twitter because I want to know them better before passing judgment. Most people judge people even before really knowing that person but you are what you say. It's as simple as that. The way you handle Twitters from your own hardcore fans, your counterparts, your haters, your elders... you are what you say.

For Zaid's case, clearly he is not a man of his word. He talks about freedom of speech, but he is unwilling to hear criticisms from the people. Old UMNO habits die hard? I was only debating the dual legal system that still exists in Malaysia with my mate by mentioning him and the next thing I know, I was blocked. Other leaders that I also had a healthy debate with like Tengku Razaleigh and Anwar Ibrahim, ended up following me instead! Yes, a little brat nobody who is supposed to be studying rather than writing this article, me.

The things you learn from Twitter.

So, that is just how much I know Zaid Ibrahim. Not much but tells a lot. I don't care if he drinks, gambles, womanises eventhough he admits to one of them. What is more important for me is that leaders should run far far away from lying to the face of the rakyat and becoming hypocrites. Yes, not just Zaid but everyone. Do not treat us like we are idiots who cannot think, who can be used by you to achieve your personal goals. You are chosen by the rakyat to do good to the rakyat.

It's not that hard to know if someone is really sincere about what they say. They have to walk the talk, not just talk like a cock.

NB: I am referring cock as the rooster you dirty minded people.