Meeting was Over

It was finally over. Luckily, this time around, traffic was not an issue. I remembered in the last few UMNO meetings, the road was practically a gridlock, especially at around 7, as the VIP were leaving the site, all with their accompanying police escort. At least, I have not seen any of those escorts this time around. But maybe because I tended to leave for home a bit later lately.

Regular readers to the blog understood my pet hate of the outriders. The Politicians used this unnecessarily in my opinion and it should only be used when they are absolutely needed. I tended not to give way to them. For me, it was not a matter of life and death. It was sad that people tended to give way to these jokers than they do to passing ambulances.

This year, despite not being the election year, the UMNO meeting had its share of excitement, no less with the Feedlot controversy, and the fiery speech from the Women Wing Head. Great stuff.

Put The Lights Out Brother

The boys do IKEA

Children just don't know when to stop. We went out for dinner in KLCC last night after Idlan's music school. Had a wonderful time at Spice of India. Stopped over at Kinokuniya, bought a few magazine. Idlan and Irfan making noise as usual running around the book store, burning off the extra energy after earlier doughnuts.

Waking up this morning, they wanted to go out again, and as I will be on call tomorrow, it may be a good idea after all. Anita wanted to go to IKEA and as usual, the kids wants to have lunch at Marche. One thing I really love about The Curve is the outdoor market they have during weekends. Today the boys got a Doraemon and Luigi dolls, while I myself got Toad to hang in the car. Nice! Anita bought herself a bag. We just got home and the two boys are asleep.

The Day Market at The Curve

The drawback of this all though is I missed much of the UMNO Assembly speeches. Will need to wait for the RSS feeds to come through later and read the editorials and blogs. But it is clear that Abdullah will be stepping down as early as next week as he is seeking an audience with the Yang Dipertuan Agong coming Thursday. No doubt there will be an eagerly awaited cabinet reshuffle soon after. There will be intense lobbying until then by the politicians to land themselves the coveted cabinet posts.

Idlan with his Luigi, reading at MPH

Daddy's Toad

It looks like Earth Hour is going off with a bang this year. The publicity is better as the one last year seemed like a non-event. For those unaware, it is a yearly event, first organised in 2007, but only in selected cities, Sydney being one of them. 35 countries participated in the event last year. Despite Singapore and the Philippines doing their bids, the concept sounded alien to us back home apart from in and around KLCC - the Twin Tower lights were switched off then. To be honest, even though the event was initiated by the the WWF (not the wrestling one ah!), it did not receive a full backing of the UN. The UN Headquarters will only be switching off their lights for the first time this year even though the whole of New York, including the Empire State Building was in darkness last year. Even the Google homepage was dimmed for an hour during the blackout - they are not doing this year. The irony is, some cities are planning to celebrate the darkness with firework shows .... hmmmm .... carbon emission ... global warming .... you do the math! I pray that KLCC won't be doing the same. But to be honest, the relevant ministers have got their hands tied up in the UMNO Assembly to care much about it.

 The fountains around th Day Market

It looks like everyone is embracing it this year which can only be good, but the main objective is not how much we can save in that hour. The main goal is to create awareness. The fact that it is becoming an event with cult followers will hopefully spawn other ideas in the future. At the time of writing, watching CNN, Sydney has switched off its streetlights and other non-essential lights. I will be doing so as well although it will not be popular in the household. Everyone will be watching Akademi Fantasia!

 

And The Winners Are ....

A couple of days ago during lunch, sitting down with colleague, we just can't help but touch on the UMNO election. Bear in mind my colleagues are mainly Chinese. The main questions were 1) who will be the next Deputy President (basically the next Deputy Prime Minister) and 2) will Khairy win the Youth Head post?

The two questions are answered now. The only way for Muhyiddin to lose is if Ali Rustam's supported all shifted to Muhd Taib's camp. Khairy won by a landslide despite being given a warning only a few days back on his involvement in money politics. But truthfully, there was no major shock there.

I was actually surprised by he manner in which Shahrizat trounced Rafidah. Other eye-opening observations were the fact how badly the 'Menteri Besar's did in the Supreme Counsel election and the fact that there was only a solitary woman candidate selected. Azalina tried but failed to win a seat. The previous leaders of the Youth and Putera wings did well, with Hishamuddin landing the Vice President berth and Azeez a seat in the Supreme Council. It was also humbling to hear that Shahrir Samad offered his resignation from Cabinet after failing to stay in the SC. I always had time for him and I am sure he will find some way to serve. Maybe back to the PAC. Will this be the end for Azalina I wonder? Will this also send a message to both the Wanita and Puteri Wing that something needs to change. The change in the leaders can only be good and hopefully they will start afresh.

They is no time to dwell however as there will be three by-elections coming up in the next few weeks. It will be an early test of public opinion on Najib's leadership, although an unfair one. If BN wins, the critics will put it down to a new wind in the sails. Should BN loses then everyone will start writing about their downfall. It looks like a lose-lose situation. Well that's the price to be paid for having the elections so soon after the Assembly.

Update on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 1:35AM by Haris Abdul Rahman

After Idlan and Irfan slept, I managed to add in a photo gallery into the blog. In the last couple of weeks, I have been getting constructive criticism from readers like you. It was mentioned that my blog is relatively picturesque. Everyone knows I like to take photos. Should you wish to see my real portfolio, by all means please support my photography site - after I got the time to update them of course, of visit my sister site, mainly about my personal activities with my wife and children in Idlan's photo diary.

Visitors from Songkla

Was planning to update the blog yesterday after the UMNO election results but I fall asleep instead. The reason, visitors from Prince of Songkla University Medical School who visited the Medical Department yesterday. Both myself and my bosses, Profs Wan and Gan were there to welcome them. The leader of the group is a Professor of Haematology. We gave briefings on the Department, the Undergraduate and the Masters programs. We then took them to visit the Haematology ward, Dialysis Unit and the Clinical Investigations Centre. I finally saw them off at around 5.

It was raining heavily, so I had some coffee with Bee and Edmund, waiting for the traffic to subside. Reached home rather exhausted, took my shower and as usual, the the boys were climbing all over me. Then guess what? I was dozing off. Finally learned the election results this morning. Need some time to guzzle them down before I can comment. Will blog later in the afternoon.

UMNO Conference Mania

UMNO and me has been connected for many years. I was born in Kepala Batas, Penang. Most of my immediate family still lives there. My grandfather's house was only about 200 yards away from Datuk Abdullah Badawi, the Prime Minister's house. Our family knew each other since I can remember. My grandfather, uncles and mother are all ardent supporters of UMNO. They really put their time and effort into it. They really believe in what UNO stands for. They believe that UMNO is the reason for Malaya (as Malaysia was known at the time) to gain independence from the British.

The spirit rubbed off to me. When I was a student i the UK, I was active in the UMNO Club there. By 1997, I was the UMNO Youth Head for the UK an Eire. Unfortunately then that I encountered first time on how politics can be dishonest and deceitful. I don't see it as my cup of tea. I like everything straight and I am more of a 'do'er than a talker. People close to me knew that. I didn't pursue UMNO anymore.

AT the turn of the Millennium, A fair few of my peers from UMNO left the organisation and joined the Opposition, Parti Keadilan. I still hear from them from time to time, so as from my friends that remained in UMNO. It is very clear there two kinds of people in both camps. The 'do'ers, the real core that get the things done, and another group that are in it for the power. Different political parties, but they are essential the same. Not all of them are corrupted. They are still a few that are genuinely to make a difference. But oftentimes they are the ones that shied away from the limelight. The unsung hero of the group.

This evening, we will learn who will be elected as the Vice and Deputy President, cum the Deputy Prime Minister. I hope it is the 'do'er in him that gets him elected. Hopefully there will also be less of this.