w.I.b:warung ikan bakar:
Harap-harap INI KALILAH !


Thursday, October 30, 2003  

Selamat Bersara, Tun Dr Mahathir.

Semoga Tuhan memberkati usahamu sebagai ketua kerajaan, Dato' Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi.


At about quarter past three this afternoon, Dato' Seri Abdullah HajiAhmad Badawi was sworn in as the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Subsequently, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir and Datin Seri Dr Siti Hasmah was awarded the title 'Tun'.

(I was at the blood bank with Choo Wei, almost everyone, donors, doctors and sisters was paying attention to the ceremony on TV that was brief but historical. After all, this did not happen since 22 years ago. I was not even born then.)

Bloggers on Dr M today:
"The old guy's got balls of steel. That alone deserves respect - spit

"The man who believed that you should call a spade a spade and had the courage to say it. The man who was a political genious. And more importantly the man who had the guts to admit the mistakes he made. Happy retirement Old Man. You will be missed. " - Suresh Gnasegarah

"Get some rest, enjoy what's left of life and (this is for me) thanks.
Hopefully we'll be able to pick up where you left. Have a good one, Dr M. " Ash

"Keranamu, I am proud to be Malaysian.
I offer a prayer of gratitude today for our exceptional Prime Minister. May he enjoy his retirement-something he ought have gotten years ago." David Teoh

and more to come. Kavetha yesterday commented,"You have not experienced any PM other than Mahathir. How do you know whether he is good or not?"
Hmm, I may have lots to criticise about him, but indeed the Old Man as the PM will be missed. For all the good things you bring us, terima kasih. Goodbye, Tun !

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 11:55 PM
 

new commenting(enetation?)

I noticed that the 400 character limit in Backblog can be very annoying, especially to eida and nina whose comments that i really really appreciate are quite long sometimes, and it is a nuisance for them.

So, if Blogger (TM) permits, (still having problems to code correctly), Haloscan would be my main enetation now.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 7:05 PM


Tuesday, October 28, 2003  

This must be one of the best photosite I've been to.

Inspiration for me to use my lowly I-digicam.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 12:19 AM


Monday, October 27, 2003  

Selamat tinggal, Dr Mahathir...

Ahad lalu, saya termimpi suatu perkara yang aneh. Boleh dikatakan mimpi ngeri. Dalam mimpi itu, Dr Mahathir dengan konco-konconya membuat suatu persidangan akhbar. Beliau mengumumkan, "I hereby announce that the Government of Malaysia has decided that I shall stay on...".

Ganjil, bukan? Tidak pernah sesuatu yang begitu bersifat politik menjadi mimpi ngeri bagi saya. Pada saya, ini bermakna dua perkara - pertama, Dr Mahathir sememangnya, setelah sekian lama jadi PM, telah sebati dengan cara hidup kita, sehingga mimpi pun mimpi dia. Pengaruhnya cukup dalam, sama ada pada penyokongnya atau pembangkangya. Kedua, jelaslah bahawa saya ni tergolong dalam kumpulan rakyat yang lebih suka Dr Mahathir bersara, dan mengharapkan perubahan untuk negara di bawah pemimpin baru, dengan dasar-dasar baru, and pembersihan kesilapan lalu.

Lambang Malaysia
Dr Mahathir, sebagai ahli politik dan pemimpin, memang tidak dapat lari dari kritikan dan unsur-unsur pembangkang. Kelemahan dan kesilapan, walau disorok bagaimanapun, akan didedahkan dan digosipkan juga. Namun, pencapaiannya di arena antarabangsa sukar untuk diperkecilkan. Beliau mempunyai personaliti yang menarik, eccentric, konsisten dalam ideologinya dan cukup lantang dan kontroversial dalam menyuarakan pendirian negara dan dirinya dihadapan pemerhati and pemimpin sedunia. Pemimpin-pemimpin dari negara anggota ASEAN, OIC dan NAM melihat Dr Mahathir sebagai tokoh, sebagai seorang pemimpin yang layak mewakili perjuangan dan agenda mereka.

Personaliti dan ketrampilannya sememangnya lebih terserlah daripada pemimpin-pemimpin negara maju. Sekurang-kurangnya saya lebih menyukai Dr Mahathir daripada pemimpin lain yang tidak konsisten dan tidak boleh dipercayai seperti Bush dan Howard.

Dr Mahathir sendiri seolah-olah menjadi maskot negara. Orang mengenali Malaysia bukan sahaja dengan Menara Berkembar, tetapi juga kerana muka Perdana Menteri ini sudah cukup publisitinya di arena antarabangsa. Kejayaan ini memang patut kita banggakan. Malaysia akan kehilangan seorang jurucakap dan 'maskot' yang patut dihargai.

Apa jua kelemahan Dr Mahathir pun, sekurang-kurangnya beliau berjaya menjadi 'role model' kepada anak-anak muda kita yang masih mentah mengenali kekejaman politik dan kelemahan Dr Mahathir. Sekurang-kurangnya, apabila ditanya "siapakah idola anda?" kepada murid-murid, tidak perlu mereka menipu dengan menyebut nama pemimpin negara yang sebenarnya tidak berguna, ataupun menyebut nama-nama tokoh dari Barat yang lebih popular seperti Martin Luther King, JFK, Winston Churchill dan sebagainya.

Saya juga mengagumi cara beliau mengendali sesuatu krisis. Saya percaya beliau telah mengendalikan krisis ekonomi dan politik pada lewat 90-an dengan baik. Pada masa begitu, seorang pemimpin perlu bertindak keras, dan autokratik. Tiada masa untuk melayan gangguan dan aduan yang tidak berasas. Seorang pemimpin perlu berani membuat keputusan dan bertanggungjawab ke atasnya. Ini Dr Mahathir telah lakukan.

Potong markah
Doktrin Islam moden yang dibawa oleh Dr Mahathir juga sesuatu yang baik untuk masyarakat Islam. Saya percaya beliau berjaya menyampaikan maksud yang sebenarynya, yang dapat meruntuhkan fahaman-fahaman extremis dalam hal-hal Islam. Malaysia, walaupun bukan 100%, boleh dijadikan contoh negara Islam yang moden.

Namun, kita harus tanya sama ada pemimpin-pemimpin kita betul-betul tidak melanggar ajaran. Bukankah ada di antara mereka juga makan rasuah dan main perempuan? Ini bukan contoh sebuah kerajaan Islam. Seperti Bush yang selalu bermegah-megah dengan pegangan terpesongnya dalam ajaran Kristian, agama kalau tidak diikuti betul-betul baik janganlah dijadikan perisai.

Kita harus sedar bahawa Malaysia sebenarnya mempunyai potensi untuk menjadi sebuah negara yang jauh lebih baik daripada sekarang. Kita mempunyai infrastruktur dan kemudahan yang baik, tetapi dasar sosial, kebebasan, keadilan dan pendidikan kita masih pada peringkat yang sangat rendah. Sebelum kita heap praises on Dr Mahathir, kita harus sedar bahawa dalam 22 tahun beliau mentadbir negara ini, beliau banyak membuat pilihan dan keputusan yang salah ataupun kurang tepat.

Dr Mahathir boleh dikatakan seorang yang pro-rasuah. Maksud saya beliau tidak membuat tindakan tegas ke atas mereka yang makan rasuah. Tambahan pula, beliau membenarkan mereka yang memang jelas makan rasuah untuk kembali kepada parti politik dan barisan pentadbiran. Apakah beliau begitu kekurangan bakat dalam pentadbiran sehingga terpaksa mengambil mereka yang makan rasuah? Beliau banyak mengecam money politics dan rasuah dalam ucapannya tetapi cakap sahaja tidak berguna. Lihat pada BPR - bagaikan kereta kebal tak berenjin.

Dr Mahathir telah salah menginterpretasi dan melaksanakan Dasar Ekonomi Baru. Beliau sendiri akui bahawa dia telah silap sehingga sekarang terjadinya 'Dependency Syndrome' di kalangan bumiputera. Teorinya dalam 'The Malay Dilemma' juga boleh dipertikaikan dan kurang asasnya. Untuk melaksanakan dasar ini, beliau hanya memilih beberapa usahawan bumiputera sebagai kroninya. Mereka seperti Halim Saad, Daim, Tajuddin dan sekarang Syed Mokhtar mendapat projek dan kekayaan dengan senang, dan memulakan 'dependency syndrome' ini.

Malaysia could have been so much stronger
Yeah, itu benar. Sekiranya, Dr Mahathir lebih mementingkan pembangunan akhlak dan intelek daripada pembangunan monumen-monumen kegagahan dan kejayaan ekonomi, masa depan dan kekuatan kita rakyat Malaysia akan jauh lebih baik.

Walau bagaimanapun, Dr Mahathir juga hanyalah manusia. Kesilapan dan kekurangan memanglah ada. Beliau menyambut peranan sosialnya sebagai seorang doktor perubatan. Pada saya, latihan kedoktoran ini sedikit-sebanyak membentuk personalitinya. Kini, sudah kurang bilangan doktor-doktor yang menyertai politik dan berjaya ke peringkat yang tinggi seperti beliau. Yang banyaknya cumalah dari bidang guaman, pengajian Islam dan perniagaan.

Jumaat ini, Dr Mahathir akan bersara. Saya sambut ini sebagai berita baik - harapan baru bagi Malaysia di tangan Pak Lah dan tumpang gembira kerana this old man dapat berehat, setelah berkerja lama. Kalau saya Dr Mahathir, saya mesti sangat bersyukur kerana dapat bersara semasa masih sihat sejahtera dan disanjung tinggi.

Selamat tinggal, Dr Mahathir.


Komen Pengakhir Bulan- Warung Ikan Bakar 28/10/03

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 7:52 PM


Sunday, October 26, 2003  

Coming up tomorrow:

Komen Pengakhir Bulan: Selamat tinggal, Dr Mahathir....

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 8:47 PM
 

Kepada kawan-kawan yang beragama Islam,

Selamat berpuasa. Kalau sudi, ajaklah saya berbuka sama-sama.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 8:31 PM


Friday, October 24, 2003  

Randomly...6

ECG can be fun and comprehensive, ahhh(relieved..)finally... While some people have forked out RM 30 plus for a "Making sense of ECG" textbook, or a "ECG made easy", I being a cheapskate as usual, found a book from the library, and it really made sense to me, finally. Dale Davis' 3rd edition of "Quick and Accurate: 12-Lead ECG interpretations" - it's cool and it lets you do some intepreting exercises! And you know what, this is my first weekend at home in years to be actually sitting down at my desk, studying.

Deepavali weekend Besides studying, I did go out meet some old friends. I met Senthil, my former debate partner (both of us knew the pain of early defeat), again after so long. Well, he graduated from MMU, and now, very much a businessman. Happy to know he is doing well, and earning....

Spending time with friends I realised I am one of them who don't make an effort to meet my old friends. Shameful, but true. Out of sight, out of mind. Stingy with my time? Or view too highly of myself? Or is it the other way round? Whatever it is, I promise to be more sincere and active in reaching out to those old buddies.

How to say No? However, there are times when I realise must say NO to some propositions my friends make. I cannot entertain them all the time, isn't it? Wild plans or ambitious plans that I cannot afford. I am still learning how to say NO and honour my instincts.

Business plan Yeah, that's right, I have got a business plan to write. And that's because I have yet to learn to say NO when I feel strongly about saying it. Even if this business make millions next time, I think I have to say NO eventually. After I finished writing it, though.

PROMUDA was featured in Star Bizweek today. One of their "wish-list" is Introduce a ranking system or league system for primary and secondary schools, public and private universities. I think it's a good idea. Not because I am an elitist, but really, it is important to preserve the prestige and excellence of a top-notch institution like Universiti Malaya or ACS Ipoh. Now, both institutions is a pale shadow of what it used to be. Why? Because, every Tom and Dick and Harry can masuk. That is why. If there is a ranking system, then the ones who have the right attitude and desire to bring about excellence in education would know where to go. Now, the good ones are badly scattered. Their common goals and interests are disunited, in the midst of mediocrity and immaturity. Beng Kuin said this yesterday, "Fooji, what happened to UM ah? I think only USM and MMU is at the Top 50 of Asian U's. Standard drop ah?" How I wish I can counter that, but sadly, all I can afford in honesty, is a nod in agreement.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 8:00 PM


Wednesday, October 22, 2003  

Jews.....

Recently, I have made known my dislike for Jews. Before anyone should conclude hastily, no, I am not a hate criminal, or a anti-Semitic. Some of my friends have publicly but jokingly label me an anti-Semitic. There was one time where an Iranian PhD student was having dinner with us at the same table, and out came the 'anti-Semitic' joke on me.

Later, Gibran said, "Hey, gosh, he (the Iranian) could be a Jew.....there are Jews in Iran..."
Though the chances of that are slim, it still turn the joke to be tasteless already.

But anyway, it is true - I really have little fancy for the Jews. Those pro-Jews and some Christians would not like what I said.

" Jews are blessed people of God. That is why they are successful and smart. Who are we to question who God should bless?" Pang said. I cannot agree. I cannot believe in a God who still shows favouritism past the Old Testament times. That, to me, should not be the basis of an argument why we should accept the fact for 'world domination' by Jews. They are smart and successful, so be it. Don't blame it on God.

Why do people not like Jews? For me, the way they are stubborn and arrogant, and excessively relataliative with the Palestinians is the factor. For others, it could be because 'they rule the world by proxy', they are too damn smart and succesful....etc, etc, or just born to be hated. Jews, since biblical times, make others to have the tendency to either hate them or be in awe of them.

Whatever the reason, it should never be translated into a reason for violence against them. What Hitler and the Germans did to them deserve a punishment as bad as a live, unanaesthesised anatomy dissection, layer by layer, fascia by fascia, muscle to muscle.



Last night, we finally finished the whole set of Band of Brothers. A masterpiece on WW2. And in Part 9, the soldiers discovered concentration camps of Jews, badly tortured and left to die by the Nazis. (see pic above) It was so sad. And then, I realise, hey maybe I should reserve my comments about Jews.

Anyway, here's the bottomline. Disliking the Jews does not make one an Anti-Semitic. But criticising them is purely one's right. Just like how you condemn the poor service in Spicy Kitchen in Sri Hartamas, the stand is purely your own.

And, there are good Jews, and also evil Jews. One should never judge them collectively. I don't think I dislike the Jews in Korea, or the ones in Australia or even the ones paying Bush from New York or Texas. But those like Ariel Sharon is no better than some Nazi generals who obeyed Hitler's orders. So, perhaps, I should rephrase my stand - "I do not like what the Israeli government is doing, not Jews as a whole."




| |fooji made noise at the warung at 7:47 PM


Tuesday, October 21, 2003  

Randomly....5

Enthusiasm at the bed side Clearly this young lady has grasped the right spirit to kick off the new clinical year ahead, mostly spent in Klang ! Some are feeling each other's topless body in their rooms, almost obscene to outsiders if they do not know what they are doing. Some are following seniors to the bedside... while still there are some who preferred to read more in the library before going into action later, some chose to remain as sloths and spend consecutive days in MidValley and a marathon of Band of Brothers.

Deepavali Some have even gone home and declared an extended Deepavali weekend. To my all Indian friends and colleagues, Happy Deepavali !

Closing shop ? Been having thoughts of ending the business of this Warung. To read more blogs and blog less, and to blog more often in Ipoh Tauges, instead.

Did I tell you I met Andrea Foo the other day at Subang Jaya? Yeah, the girl with whom I share the same surname and birth date. Cool huh? Yeah, she's cool.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 8:30 PM


Monday, October 20, 2003  

I thought I wanted to keep quiet about THIS. But I was rather pissed with one of Jeff Ooi's reader who commented on this.

Here's my comment:

Let's just say Mahathir fell into the trap.

They are just waiting and waiting to harp on this.

and mahathir gave them a chance.

While I really agree with what Mahathir said (yes, I don't really like what the Jews are doing), I don't think he should say it so strongly to an international audience, which is immature, stupid, and oversensitive.
The whole world is a KAMPUNG. Depends on how you look at it.

Mahathir may be a racist. So may you and I. And for Jolph, he is a bigger racist !

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 7:52 PM
 

It is alive. It's everywhere.
In the channel strategy of ASTRO. In the preposterous colour sorting in local TV dramas

In the lecture hall of undergraduates.

In the makan place. In holidays trips, society meetings and elective plans.

In the men's room. In the ladies' room.

In bus stops and in buses.

In conversations, in gossips, in slanders, in insults, in jokes.

Except for some well-mixed 'anomalies' somewhere, this thing called RACISM is alive. It's everywhere.

Maybe it has a different coat of disguise under the pretext of new policies, but this thing called RACISM is alive. It is everywhere.

How odd it seems, how incongruent, how unharmonious to the so-called 'greatest achievement' of the doctor who became the prime minister.

Sad but true, call me a pessimist, this thing called RACISM is alive, here and there.

Blame who? Blame the doctor who became PM or the lawyer who became PM? Or blame the stupid white men who came here and brought along those from another continent? Or blame the last emperor and the communists of China, who caused poverty and forced migration to Malaya? Blame who? Should we blame the pathogenesis alone? Or should we feel ashamed for the lack of a good cure, even after all this years. The disease remain, the prognosis stagnant and unclear.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 7:31 PM
 

Earning RM 5000 in 10 months

If I can do this, then I'll be going to India for my 4th year elective. Almost everyone is talking about their plans, when we are yet to formally assume the clerkship of a 3rd year MS.

But it'll be great isn't it, to experience a healthcare setting in a foreign country, and what more, if that country is India......

Now, please help me think....How to earn RM 5000 in 10 months to pay for the expenses? Gamble?Shares?Work?Scholarship?......

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 8:12 AM


Sunday, October 19, 2003  

I nak complain......

Another ward round cancelled today. I am starting to lose tolerance to those who do not honour what is written in our time-table. We make time, we plan the day, we prepare and all that to suit the schedules in the time-table.

Kalau tak sanggup, atau tak fikir pun untuk periksa jadual tugas anda sebelum commit yourself to another meeting, janganlah sign up jadi pengajar.

Tell our co-ordinator you're not free, or send another doctor. You have plenty of 'em, right ?

Ke arah ketidakpatuhan sifar menurut ISO 9001:2000: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, my FOOT !!!!!!!

Tauke is feeling sleepy and frustrated from a wasted morning.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 10:16 PM


Saturday, October 18, 2003  

Rest in peace

May God bless his soul. His humor, his wisdom, his courage and integrity will be badly missed.

My deepest condolence to Johan Ismail's family.


(I found out, perhaps, too late about Johan's departure to properly react. Anyway, thanks to Grace for informing me.)

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 8:44 AM


Thursday, October 16, 2003  

Klinik Ikanbakar 03 : Student doctor or medical student ?

Call it the first week blues/inspiration. This fresh start to a new phase of our training always give us the luxury to plan our direction and determine our goals for the months ahead. How it turned out, of course, would be another story, most of the time disappointing.

"It is time to bring in the grades, no more playing the fool," Pang said. Since when he was playing the fool in his studies? Cranky, wacky, naughty yes, but never did he compromised his studies, isn't it? Anyway ....

In the first lecture by Prof K.L. Goh, he advised us to introduce ourselves as 'trainee doctors' in the ward. He preferred this term, perhaps, because it instills responsibility, and takes away the complacency and sheltered comfort that comes with the label 'student'.

But are we fit to have even the word 'doctor' attached to us ?

Dr. Steven Jamb. today clearly revealed the lack of depth in us, when discussing our attitudes towards patients and among colleagues. There is much work to do, to readjust, besides just copying lecture notes and hitting the books.

" Medicine becomes so much more than the next exciting case or opportunity to assist in a procedure. The human interaction, and incredible complexity that it carries with it, make it the amazing field that it is..." - Daniel Egan, MD

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 7:06 PM
 

End of Phase 2

Like it or not, over here, we are still considered as Phase 2 students. But most of us feel as old as a 3rd year.

This first week of 'Clinical Skills introduction and training' has its ups and downs.

Let's have a review:-
Bad
2 unreplaced-cancelled lectures
at least 2 postponed ward rounds for 2 groups
2 boring lectures
and a hall of immature so-called clinical students
Good
Some lecturers/clinicians are really good
The ward rounds seem to be more relevant, interesting
At least now, those who have started hitting the books, do not do so for the sake of exams. Some have even talked about their 4th year elective - having overseas plan in mind. What enthusiasm !
The nights over here in 6th are less wild, earlier bed times, more coffee concoctions available.....

Not bad for the first week, I guess.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 7:36 AM


Wednesday, October 15, 2003  

Still juvenile

Despite my youthful look (about that of a 16 year-old), I have always thought myself as one that is mature, almost like a seasoned old man.

Perhaps this is not so true, after all.

The reality of money-making, the misfortune of others, the surprise element in everyday life, the burden of the past, the regret of missed opportunities and a barrage of what ifs, is really making me pensive these days.

For my age, this should be part and parcel of my life, isn't it? But I feel burdened, if not exhausted.

I feel like moving to the mountains and live as a hermit for a period of time.

By avoiding participation, perhaps then I can avoid disappointment and the reality that is blunt, crude and dull.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 6:54 PM


Monday, October 13, 2003  

A fresh week, a new start, same old story...

Oh yeah, the inspiring first few lectures, followed by those who kept us waiting, and a boring one....

sigh, sigh, sigh,....

Oh yeah, the 'kehangat-ness' to study hard, even on weekends,.... followed by lethargy, and pointlessness.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 9:12 PM
 

Ambitions, dreams, vision, goals, whatever....

Kar Kin, a close friend, told me yesterday over a 'business' discussion - "Fooji, without ambitious plans and people with high ambitions, nothing much would happen in this world."

Let's face in it, slowly and mysteriously, I have become sort of a 'medical' person. My method of reasoning, and my outlook, and fiscal think-how, and all that are somewhat different from those who really know what's there in the business jungle. In short, I'm a 'sakai' when it comes to business, and profit-making ventures.

My criterion for career and life satisfaction has a somewhat different definition.

Does that make me unfit for the rest? Should I address the enterpreneurial lethargy in me, and just say 'NO', forget about it.. and all that?

Or I should take this as a business experience joyride ? Hoping for a pleasant surprise, instead of facing the possibility of regret and pain of letting others down.

By the way, about high ambitions. How many can afford them? Does everyone with ambitions get to fulfill them? Do they, in the first place, know exactly what they are hunting for? Or are they blinded by the pomp and glamour of the bombastic future plans? Everyone wants to get rich and famous, but not everyone has the know-how, the ability, the craftiness and luck to reach there. Correct?

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 1:14 AM


Saturday, October 11, 2003  

Lateral thinking...

Attention Science/Physics students:

How would you answer this exam question : "Describe how to determine the height of a skyscraper with a barometer."

perhaps this is the direct opposite to the general method of thinking of Malaysian students...

Click here !

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 6:43 PM
 

Warung.Fiction 02 : Chan Peng allowed to visit Malaysia

Putrajaya: In apparent about-turn move by the Home Ministry, the chief of the now-disbanded Communist Party of Malaya is allowed to enter his native land next month to enable him to fulfill his wish to visit his parents' graves and to visit his hometown and friends.

This decision was announced after a closed-door meeting between Thai and Malaysian authorities here yesterday. Sources said that during this meeting, Thai officials reprimanded their counterparts for being so vengeful and calculative about Chan Peng's past.

"Chan Peng is an old man. No real harm he can do. He would be allowed to enter Malaysia quietly, with no reporters or welcoming party. He would be accompanied to all the places of his interest," said Datuk Walau Bagaimanapun, parliamentary secretary of Home Ministry.

"We were unhappy with the Deputy Prime Minister's announcement last week. Thailand faced the same troubles and lost many lives during the communist insurgency of the Malayan Communists, and today they are living on our land. If we can do this, we do not see why Chan Peng is not even allowed to visit his parents' graves in Malaysia. We are glad to be able to convince Malaysia to reverse the unreasonable decision," said Rak Kon, a Thai official.

"This whole issue about Chan Peng returning to Malaysia for a short period of time should not be politicised, and should not spark a history lecture-debate, and a revisitation to the horrors of Emergency. Lives were lost on both sides due to bad decisions and clash of ideologies. This issue is as simple as allowing an old man to fulfill his wishes before he dies. No politics and no talk of revenge, please," commented Professor Jayaranee Balasundaram, a political analyst from Universiti Sukahati Malaysia.

Mixed reactions to this new decision would be expected today.

This series of Warung Fiction posts is to reflect the tauke's version of a well-governed Malaysia, minus the dumb-ass policies. This is merely a piece of wishful thinking. Any characters and events that is similar to the living and the dead is merely coincidental.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 4:14 AM


Friday, October 10, 2003  

From Jalan Lahat, sigh.....sigh....back to Jalan Gasing

2 months. Gone just like that. It felt like it was only yesterday I was roaming freely in Suria KLCC after that OSPE.

Just said bye-bye to my mom. My sis would be sleeping till noon, I guess, so maybe she would not even notice when Pravin comes to pick me up later.

Poong called yesterday, to share with me his excitement of going back to UM, and entering the wards as a 3rd year. Somehow, I am excited but not as excited as him. Macam first day at school pulak.

But somehow, the college does make us feel like going to uni for the first time. Now, I have to bring pails, my entire wardrobe, toiletries, etc. all from Ipoh back to 6th. Macam the very first day in 2001.

I've grown accustomed to the daily routine here at home in Ipoh, it just doesn't feel right leaving all that....arrgghh...maybe they shouldn't have given such a long holiday to fantasise things about...

And it doesn't help that I am having a sore throat this morning....arrgghhh....the joy of holiday is coming to an end.

And to make things even worse, the other parts of the campus is going for a one-month semester break. Aiya, Teong, why like that one?!!!

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 4:09 PM


Thursday, October 09, 2003  

The Tauke will start a series of Warung Fiction posts to reflect his version of a well-governed Malaysia, minus the dumb-ass policies.



Warung.Fiction 01 : Medical students intake from next year onwards not merely based on academic merit

Bukit Jalil: Besides having good STPM results, candidates who applied for a place in any of the public medical schools would have to pass an assessment interview in order to be chosen to receive a 5-year long medical course, announced Datuk Choy Joy Mang after chairing the 17th National Medical School Deans Conference in International Medical University(IMU) yesterday.

"My ministry shall work closely with MOE's UPU to carefully shortlist the candidates for interview. It is high time we do something about the lack of enthusiasm and positive attitudes among medical students, especially those who made it to public universities because of their straight As, and now heavily subsidised by the government," The Minister said, while the deans nodded approvingly.

At present, the intake is based solely on academic results. Normally only those with 4As or 3As in STPM and a very high CGPA for matriculation are admitted. Only private universities like IMU which still take the initiative to scan their applicants for genuine interest before admitting them.

"With the increasing number of high scorers nowadays, it is no longer safe to judge them based solely on results. Someone who passed his physics and chemistry exams with flying colors but do not have an altruistic aim in being a healthcare professional is not someone we need or looking for. We are sick and tired of students who have a lackadaisical attitude about medicine," commented Professor Datuk Dr.Mahmud Ameen Jalal, dean of UM medical school.

"One can look at Dr Mahathir as an example. He made it to King Edwards because of special advantage given to a Malay. But in the college, he did better than some of those who came with better qualifications. You see, the attitude, the interest, the maturity are all equally important,if not more than the ability to pass exams excellently," added Prof Dr. Kong Kok Bing, a guest speaker from NUS who also attended the conference.

Datuk Choy Joy Mang also added,"Although I am not a doctor but only a lawyer, I know that being a doctor is no play-play. One who wants to make money in medicine is not the kind of doctor my ministry wants to employ. We want service-orientated healthcare professionals."


Disclaimer: This is merely a piece of wishful thinking. Any characters and events that is similar to the living and the dead is merely coincidental.

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 9:24 PM


Wednesday, October 08, 2003  

Tomorrow = Independence
Mannnn... tomorrow will be the last day of my examinations!!! Been studying until I am scared of the notes and sort now (JELAK)... maklumlah, I am not in the group who like to study... NOT until the very last minute. How last minute is my last minute? HAHA... tomorrow's paper is Financial Planning (it's a Luar Fakulti's paper) and the heck thing is I am still "interneting", and yet to touch on it.... that's my definition of study and study last minute = tomorrow ada exam ke? got then study lah today, if takde, lepak lah first... surf surf and chatting chatting a bit dulu! sigh... what a wrong and misleading attitude towards studying! Anyhow, Financial Planning is my last and 6th paper, the previous ones were Robotics, Cyberlaw, Software Engineering, Neural Networks, and Image Processing... can just imagine how much I have been putting into my brain since last Monday... I am really looking forward for the post-exams break of about a month... got to really catch and pick up on a lot (up to the power of 100!!!) of knowledge and stuffs... Java programming, Matlab programming, web development, and the list goes on.... sigh...

| |eOngBoo made noise at the warung at 8:12 PM
 

Randomly 4....

back in ipoh but quiet... haha, perhaps we should forget about any big thing reunion. Even when the gang is currently on holiday and back in Ipoh, no one bothered to inform each other of their return, and presence. Ceh.... perhaps we have moved on... what big thing?

Cheese attack God willing, I will successfully bake my very own cheese cake in one hours time. It is being baked now, and I am already seeing results. You know, when you are alone at home, the best thing to do is to try out the newly acquired cheese cake recipe. With no 'experts' and 'kepochis' around, I can safely bake my cake, be it clumsily, stupidly or excellently.

Financial crisis The frequent visit to ATM and the shrinking bank account is alarming. This fiscal mismanagement needs an expert intervention! After having just recently acquired a low-end digital camera for a bargain price of RM 300, today I have to fork out RM 240 for new pair of glasses, maklumlah, saya ni tak pandai jaga cermin. Always need a new pair every 1.5 years.

Meeting bloggers and book-reviewers It suddenly hit me, that I am going to meet total strangers next Saturday. Hope I won't make a fool of myself, which I am prone to.... Details about the meet here.

blogger flogger cannot open any blogspot pages today... what the heck....is my browser's problem or is it blogger's ?

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 12:45 AM


Tuesday, October 07, 2003  


Visit the Singapore Government Online Portal. Click on the banner above.


Meanwhile, the UM student website has also improved quite tremendously for the past few months. If you check the website regularly, you will notice there are sms services to check your course registration, your account balance (fees not yet paid), and also your results, CGP and CGPA included. Not bad huh?!
Have a look, click the banner below:

| |eOngBoo made noise at the warung at 9:46 PM
 

it's time to say goodbye
boys and girls and everyone say
goodbye......
bye bye......


sung to the special boys and girls after a good 2 hour session, always smiling with relief.....

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 3:15 AM


Saturday, October 04, 2003  

This man got taste...



...Shortly after, Dr Mahathir entered, looking very fresh and smart in a well-tailored buttoned-up Nehru suit in light pinstriped grey which he wore with a crisp white shirt.

Picture and text from The Star

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 11:21 PM
 

remember the time
when you stepped outside
on a rainy day
the greens and leaves
do not seem relevant

you know the real thing
lies beyond these mountains
the days of yet to be
where the wind that blows
feels sweetly on your face

the heart is without rest
you yearn for older age
this youth, this innocence
seemed shortlived, unwanted
irrelevant

you want to trade it
for a faster pace forward
to be where you want to be
where beyond these mountains
you know, will set a greater path

but time will tell
that all these hopes
were mere dreams that inspire
what really transpire
is up to your desire
how in the end you wish to expire

in the end it depends
how much you can delay
the time to have some fun
how much you can withstand
the promises that poison

beyond those lines
you wish to return
to the good old days
to cycle on a rainy day
where the greens and leaves
are what is really important

for JH, KL, SL, CS, SY, EY

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 3:32 AM


Thursday, October 02, 2003  

movie.review : Infernal Affairs 2



Continuing from the highly successful original Infernal Affairs, this prequel has served its purpose to tell an intelligent story of the earlier struggles of the cops and gangsters.

This time, the limelight are not on the two spies made popular by Andy Lau and Tony Leung, but on their bosses, Eric Tsang's and Anthony Wong's character.

Although we can see Shawn Yue tried his very best to play Ah Yan (formerly played by Tony Leung), he has definitely missed the smoothness of Tony, but it's not too bad. Of course, the same goes to Edison Chen. Both of them did not screw up, but just something's missing.

Overall, the cast is great. And the inclusion of Carina Lau, Francis Ng and Hu Jun clearly added silk to the story.

Although this movie uses the teachings of Buddhism about some unending suffering, uninterrupted time, worst Hell, these 'infernal affairs' philosophy escaped my comprehension. All I can gather is that the storytellers - Andrew Lau, Alan Mak and Felix Chong are trying to tell us the lives of the undercovers cops and the gangsters are living hell.

I am amazed by what the directors can show us in just barely 2 hours. The story of friendship between the 2 top cops, the infatuation of Lau Kin Ming(Edison Chen) to Mary(Carina Lau), the gangster's power play and subtle gang war(which reminds me of the Godfather trilogy), the evolution of Hon Sam(Eric Tsang) and Inspector Wong(Anthony), and the time this story is based on - the transitional period of Hong Kong to China's rule (which I think is not necessary to the story). All these are told efficiently.

All in all, this is one great Hong Kong movie not to be missed. If you like Infernal Affairs, then this prequel is a must-see. For the uninitiated ones, this one is just as good, and then you would most probably make a trip to a VCD shop for the original story.

Other relevant sites:-
1)GSC - Infernal Affairs 2
2)movieseer.com

p/s: Pang, sorry I didn't ajak you along for this movie. I want everything to be quiet in this movie. Haha... : )

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 12:17 AM


Wednesday, October 01, 2003  


Election Comission: Malaysia a living example of a growing democracy


amboi, rashid ooi,... democracy is not all about election ooi....what category are you putting Malaysia in? The same as Zimbabwe and Myanmar?

| |fooji made noise at the warung at 4:33 AM


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