B.U.M. 2009 - Sat. 16th May 2009

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Bloggers’ Universe Malaysia (BUM) 2009

If you have not done so already, do it now, please mark Saturday, May 16, 2009 in your diary.

The BUM2009 Organising Committee has, together with members, worked very hard to make sure that this BUM2009 event will be meaningful and memorable for all BUMmers

Chairman: YL Chong aka Desiderata

Co-chairman: Ahirudin Attan aka rockybru

Bahasa Malaysia Chair: Helen Ang

Treasurer: Helen Hoh

Committee Members: Liew Hui Mei, ES Shankar aka donplaypuks, Capt Yuosf Ahmad aka ancient mariner, Dr SM Yeoh aka maverickysm, Chris Chew aka mob1900, Frances Yee aka primrose.

Advisor: Dr Lim Teck Ghee

BUM2009 will feature the following:

THEME: 4th and 5th Estates — on Collision Course?

Date: Saturday 16 May 2009

Venue: Lake View Club, Subang Jaya, Selangor

Theme: 4th and 5th Estates — on Collision Course?

1. Morning Session from 10.30AM – 12.30PM

Topic: The Media - Civil Society’s Perspectives

SPEAKERS:

(a) Welcome address by Dr Lim Teck Ghee, Director, CPI

(b) Din Merican, Programme Director to PKR chief
(c) KJ John, Civil Society activist
(d) Philip Koh, Lawyer

(e)Tentative: Art Harun, Lawyer-Blogger

Q and A Session (30 minutes)

Buffet Lunch

2. Afternoon Session from 2.30PM – 4.30PM

Topic: Bagaimanakah Media Baru boleh menggalakkan pemikiran kritis masyarakat?



SPEAKERS:

(a) Faisal Mustaffa, Special aide to a DAP MP
(b) Fathi Aris Omar, Online Editor
(c) Fahri Azzat, Lawyer (updated 29/4)
(d) Mustafa K Anuar, asst. Aliran secretary & Lecturer (updated 29/4)


Q and A Session (30 minutes)

Hi-Tea

3. Evening Session from 6.00PM – 8.15PM

Topic: Has The Old Media Failed Civil Society?


SPEAKERS:

(a) Jeff Ooi, DAP MP for Jelutong, Pulau Pinang
(b) Ahirudin Attan aka Rockybru, All-Blogs Interim President
(c) Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, SA of Seri Setia, Selangor
(d) Steven Gan, Editor-in-chief, Malaysiakini.com
(e) R Nadeswaran, Editor (Special reports and investigations), The Sun
(f) SURPRISE BLOGGER-SPEAKER to helicopter in?

Q and A Session (45minutes)

BUFFET DINNER

Please support this worthwhile event, thank you.

FOR FULL DETAILS PLEASE CLICK HERE

The Official BUM2009 Online Registration Link

Note: Please allow the BUM2009 online registration form to fully upload on your screen.

Yes, it might be slow at times, please be patient.

Our online registration form is compatible with Firefox and IE version 7 and above.

If you have trouble registering online, do email: bum-registration@sdscom.biz.

The fee is RM60 per head inclusive of buffet lunch, tea & buffet dinner.

Registration is CONFIRMED only on receipt of PAYMENT.

BUM2009 is targeting a maximum of 200 attendees, based on a First-come-First-served upon Pre-payment basis. Thank you.

Click here for online registration.

Venire facias

You must come


Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet


He who feared he would not succeed sat still

Swine Flu - WARNING

SWINE FLU [now known as Type A Flu (H1N1)] WARNING!

Dear Sir Madam,


Please note the warning below from the CVDC.

In addition, once the near pandemic is over, such a technique may however be useful in order to desensitise and help some members of the community get over their irrational deep rooted fear of pigs.

Please also note that this flu is, as informed by WHO, now officially known as 'Type A Flu [H1N1]'.

This name change has been carried out to protect innocent pigs who were being unnecessarily slaughtered by irrational humans.

SWINE FLU WARNING!

This practice, however cute the picture may seem be, is not advised!

A Centre for Veterinary Disease Control (CVDC) & Ministry of Health Warning:

"DO NOT DO THIS!!" *

*The pig may get sick.

Puris omnia pura

To the pure all things are pure

Claims that Malaysia Handed 1,000s of Burmese Illegal Immigrants to Human Traffickers

The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has urged Malaysia to probe claims by refugees from Myanmar (Burma) that Malaysian immigration officials handed them over to human traffickers on Malaysia's border with Thailand.

A Senate report on 23 April 2009 that claimed illegal Burmese immigrants deported from Malaysia were often turned over to human traffickers and forced to work in brothels, fishing boats and restaurants in Thailand if they had no money to purchase their freedom.

The report was based on a one year review by committee staff who spoke to migrants from military-ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, and human rights activists.

According to the report, in recent 'a few thousand' Burmese immigrants may have become victims of extortion and trafficking once they were deported to Malaysia's northern border with Thailand.

'Upon arrival at the Malaysia-Thailand border, human traffickers reportedly take possession of the migrants,' the report stated.

Read the full news report HERE

Please also click HERE for a more detailed story on this shocking human trafficking


This appears to be clear example of man's inhumanity to man!

Facta, non verba

Deeds, not words

Emitte lucem et veritatem

Send out light and truth

Do Animals Matter To You?

Click on the poster for a larger version

Help achieve global recognition that animals matter, that they can feel pain and can suffer and that we all have a responsibility to put an end to cruelty around the world.

10 million signatures are needed to let the governments of the world know we are serious about achieving a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations.

If Animals Matter To You, please sign this international petition,
please click HERE for the link

Click HERE for the Animals Matter To Me flyer

Natura in minima maxima

Nature is the greatest in the smallest things

Natura nihil fit in frustra

Nature does nothing in vain

More Arrests under Malaysia's Draconian ISA

Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) [The Abolish ISA Movement] has said three people, including an Indonesian citizen, were arrested recently under Section 73 (1) of Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) and have been detained for an initial 60 days for investigations.

GMI president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh handed two memorandum to Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) Commissioner S.Siva Subramaniam today, he said the three recent detainees are Agus Salim, aged 32, Abdul Matin Anol Rahmat, aged 60, and Indonesian Johar Hassan.

Syed Ibrahim said with the three latest arrests, there are now 30 people under ISA detention without trail, four of them have been detained without trail for more than six years.

ABOLISH THE EVIL, OPPRESSIVE & DRACONIAN ISA!

Read the full news report in the Sun Daily Malaysia HERE

These detentions under the Internal Security Act(ISA) are confirmed by Malaysia's Inspector General of Police (IGP)

"Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan confirmed the three men were being held but declined to elaborate. Home Ministry officials who could comment were not immediately available."

read the full news report HERE

Homo homini lupus


Man is a wolf to man

Iustitia omnibus

Justice for all

Pure Unadulterated Talent

Maybe you haven't seen and heard this lady sing yet?

I am certain you will enjoy listening to this wonderful lady Susan Boyle from Scotland, singing "I Dreamed A Dream' in "Britain's Got Talent" which was broadcast from Glasgow recently.

It proves that to be a success and to have something really special, anyone's age, good looks and wealth are not important.

Enjoy the heart moving experience.

It is pure, divine and a joy to behold, unadulterated by anything.
The world would be a far better place with more wonderful people like the honest, humble and selfless Susan Boyle.

Click HERE to listen for yourself, you will be glad you did so.


Sing on Susan! Your dream has come true at long last!


O diem praeclarum!


Oh, what a beautiful day!

Another World Record for Malaysia

"Malaysia Boleh" once again!!


The International Shipping Press, including Lloyds List, reports this:

Alphaliner estimated that 9% of capacity operated by the world’s top 24 lines is currently unemployed, equivalent to almost 1m teu.

Data from Alphaliner also shows that Malaysia’s MISC has the largest volume of container vessels out of action, with 32% of capacity being idle.

MISC is not even in the top ten of container ship companies, yet it has made this world record.

Those top ten are here:

IDLE CAPACITY OF WORLD TOP TEN CONTAINER LINES

CARRIER % OF CAPACITY IDLE

1 Maersk 8%

2 MSC 1%

3 CMA / CGM 2%

4 Evergreen 0%

5 COSCO 10%

6 Hapag-Lloyd 2%

7 APL 23%

8 CSCL 16%

9 NYK 11%

10 Hanjin 14%

and way down the list somewhere

MISC

with a world record of 32% idle!

How shameful that is!

Ab actu ad posse valet illatio

From what has happened we may infer what will happen

Aut disce aut discede

Either learn or leave

1Malaysia m' Arse!!

Utusan Malaysia the best selling Malay Language daily newspaper in Malaysia, which by the way is contolled by UMNO of which Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is the head, has quoted several Malay politicians and activists as saying:

'Malays should put aside their political differences so that they can jointly resist pressure from the Chinese and Indian minorities'.

“The Malays must rise and unite in facing the demands of other races that are now seen as increasingly excessive,” said a paragraph in the article.

To link to Utusan Malaysia click HERE

To see what was reported in the Singapore Straits Times click HERE

and Taiwan News HERE

Najib has been talking about a '1Malaysia policy', that seems to be just that hypocritical talk, is it yet another case of no action, talk only?

UMNO it seems will never reform, lessons apparently still haven't been learned, and the complaisant 'head in the sand' attitude remains.

Does UMNO stand for: Unrepentant Moronic Nincompoops Over-and -over-again

So it is now quite apparent (as visible as the balls of a dog in fact) which race in Malaysia is the most self-centred and overtly racial.

Whither Malaysia?

Who knows, but the good news will hopefully be the demise of UMNO and all race based political parties.

Politics should aim to be secular and racially neutral, otherwise the future looks quite bleak.

Rais Yatim

Meanwhile the Minister of Information, Communication and Culture (also affectionalely known as 'Ministry of Propaganda Propagation'), Rais Yatim was reported thus:

Rais Yatim said the ministry played an important role in establishing only the right kind of information* reached the masses.

Click HERE for the report in the Star

“The government is not looking to find fault with bloggers and other Internet users but would like them to follow the law to ensure they did not misuse it.”

"It is not that we are looking for faults all the time. But we would like the right of the people to be guarded by the relevant authorities and the law. "Our aim is to see the 1Malaysia concept succeed. However, in order to succeed, the facts must not be twisted or misinterpreted by some until it raises racial sentiments.”

"If the right information* does not reach the people how can there be success”?

“So, I want everyone to understand and respect the law."

*(= propaganda)

This guy really talks and talks, did you see him prattle on yet again during the BBC 'HARDtalk' programme, if not the link is HERE

Intelligenti pauca

Few words suffice for he who understands

In alio pediculum, in te ricinum non vides

You see a louse on someone else, but not a tick on yourself

Malaysian Police Seize Opposition DVDs

Are the Malaysian police playing politics again?


It sure looks like it, judge for yourselves by reading the report in the Straits Times HERE

Malaysian police seized DVDs used by the opposition to campaign for upcoming special elections, party officials said on Monday 30th March 2009, this is another example of an ongong crackdown on any political opposition or dissent.

Police seized 30 DVDs at an opposition campaign rally and detained an opposition official late on Sunday 29th March 2009 in northern Perak state, Ngeh Koo Ham, a Perak opposition legislator said.

An opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said the action was 'the latest example of the increasing intolerance toward fundamental liberties like freedom of speech, thought and expression in Najib's Malaysia'.

The DVD showed clips of opposition state assemblymen being barred by the police from holding a meeting at the Perak state legislature after Barisan Nasional gained control of the state administration from the Pakatan Rakyat.

The district police chief Azisman Alias has reportedly denied the police had any political motivation, saying the government's film censorship board has not approved the DVDs for public distribution.

Ab actu ad posse valet illatio

From what has happened we may infer what will happen

Graviora manent

Greater dangers await

The Pope condemned on condoms

In the Lancet - The Pope versus the Condom

One of the most prestigious medical journals in the world, the Lancet, has accused Pope Benedict XVI of distorting science in remarks he made during a recent visit to Africa regarding the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

The BBC has a story on the subject HERE

It appears that the Pope has lost touch with the reality of the situation, his remarks that the "cruel epidemic" should be tackled through abstinence and fidelity rather than condom use, will have the effect of a cruel long and painful lead up to inevitable death.

The Pope has in effect served a death sentence on many Roman Catholic believers worldwide.

The Pope reportedly said:-

"the traditional teaching of the Church has proven to be the only fail safe way to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids."

One can understand the Pope's sentiments, but he needs to be realistic.

This utter idealistic rubbish is the opinion of someone, who is obviously out of touch and looking through rose-coloured glasses from a high vantage point in Cloud Cuckoo-land.

Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem

As long as we are among humans, let us be humane

Primum non nocere

The first thing is to do no harm

Rosmah? Rosmah who?

UMNO delegates have clearly showed that they want change and they want leaders who can speak and listen to the aspirations of the people, according to Rosmah.

Evidently Rosmah, has been attending the UMNO assembly from day one and will stay to the end, said she was not only here to lend moral support but also to listen to grievances from the delegates.

It was reported she said, “If I were not here, I would be at home to sort of (sic) my house first before coming to listen to the speakers."

The irrelevant and biased views of Rosmah should not be featured in an article by a nation newspaper, dedicated to the UMNO assembly should they? She is just there as a visitor is she not?

Click

A re decedunt


They wander from the point



Crescit amor nummi, quantum ipsa pecunia crevit


The love of wealth grows as the wealth itself grew.

Is UMNO in terminal decline?

The message to UMNO is clear, in a nutshell it is:
"Reform or Die".

Abdullah Badawi reportedly said UMNO would perish if it continued to silence critics, jail opponents and discriminate against minority Chinese and Indian races.

This is the true picture, after all it is just a bit of common sense, but will Najib heed it?

I fear not, as many UMNO members are, as they have proved to be, far to aloof, arrogant and self-centred. UMNO may soon die by commiting collective suicide.

They do not have the guts and the etiquette to commit honourable seppuku, which is also known as harakiri (腹切り

The BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur says it (UMNO) is an organisation that permeates every level of society; that is certainly the honest truth.

Click HERE to read the full BBC news report from Kuala Lumpur.


Multi famam, conscientiam pauci verentur



Many fear their reputation, few their conscience




Mens regnum bona possidet



An honest heart is a kingdom in itself

Worldwide: 2,400 people were executed in 2008

2,390 people worldwide were executed last year, but most countries moved a step closer toward abolishing the death penalty.

Amnesty International- http://www.amnesty.org/ - said in a report issued on Monday 23rd March 2009, click HERE

Of 25 nations using the death penalty in 2008 [including Malaysia], China was the most prolific.

The report said P. R. of China used lethal injection and shooting to execute at least 1,718 people.

However P. R. C.does not publish data on the death penalty.

Of the top-six execution countries in Amnesty's list, only the USA (37 executions) publishes statistics on the penalty's use.

The figures for the others are estimates based on what Amnesty International had verified through media reports, information from rights groups and official statements.

Other groups frequently give much higher figures than those stated by Amnesty International.

The other leading executioner nations on the list are:

Iran (346 executions)

Saudi Arabia (102 executions)

Pakistan (36 executions) and

Iraq (34 executions).

To link to the full Amnesty International Report please click HERE

Lex talionis

The law of revenge