I Need My Baby!

In the days before Custer was even born, the vast land of North America was the home to peace-loving people of various tribes and nations, and not the war-mongers and scalp hunters as western movies of the past portrayed them to be. True, the different tribe did engage themselves in battles with their neighbours. But it might be surprising to note that in at least one of the tribes, a greater honour is placed not in the killing of an enemy, but to touch him in a battle: coup! (click here).

To claim a coup, the warrior would be need to confront an enemy, touch him with his hand or coup-stick, and escape unharmed. The more coup the warrior achieve (each coup must have a witness), the higher he stands in his tribe, with feathers worn on his headgear as a testament to his bravery. However, there is another form of coup which does not add to a warrior's tale. And that is when he hunts a deer not for food, but just to touch it. The idea, is to test his skills in approaching a quarry undetected.

That's it! I need my own baby! I mean, it can real tiring especially on days like today has been, where I had to cover 2 events. Never mind the fact that at the second event, Wak Kasiran was on hand and doing most of the job there. But that I had to drive and run around just to get pictures and stories even before I lubricate my body properly, is enough to make me near short fuse. And after covering several events this past week I've come to realise that yes, I do need my own baby!

I mean, I don't mind going to places where some struts their baby with pride, holding them in front for everyone else to gawk. No, I don't mind that. After all, to each, his own rezeki-lah! But I do mind when I walk into a hall and every stares at me from head to toe and seem to be asking....well, you know what. But that is not so bad. What gets to me is not being able to do what those guys do with their babes!

Yes, I desperately do need a baby!

But, she's got to be something real special. Elegant. Stylish. Pleasant to look at.

She should also be able to focus on the subjects I have in mind and not succumb to some bodily dysfunction which could...well, ruin the occasion.

Most importantly, she must be digital.

Take this shot, for example. I wanted to get a close-up of the woman in yellow but did not want to get near her as I do not want her to be conscious of the camera. With a DSLR and zoom lens, the picture of someone elderly like her attending the rally against the inhumane mass murder in Gaza might open more hearts to attend future rallies as well as the boycott campaign.

Or this girl. She was quite lively on the floor facing the stage.

And this guy, I simply had to snap him for the A-Card slung over him advertising a book
"Mat Jenin Jadi PM?" Hmm...wonder who that Mat Jenin is.

And later in the afternoon, PAS Kelana Jaya held a ceremony to welcome over 100 people into its fold. Led by the former ameno Branch Chief in USJ1, they were officially accepted by Dato' Dr Hassan Ali. But what a shot I could have take of the beauty had she not realised it.
But alas, she slips lower than the table height. Er...I mean that small girl in her mother's arms ya :)

What beautiful shots, what tremendous coups I could have achieved had I my own DSLR. No offence to the borrowed Olympus which is handy and good for picnic shots...but I just must have my own baby! And they, don't come cheap. Woe me.

Will make a proper entry tomorrow on Aman Palestine's as well as the PAS Kelana Jaya events tomorrow.

Beautiful Sunday

I would have elected to use Bill Wither's 'Lovely Day', except that Me...OB is currently using it. And with Cikgu and Ydiana trying to sue my pants off for a cut of a commission, I think I would be more prudent for me to use the song above; it was, after all, a beautiful Sunday.

After tapau-ing emak's breakfast as well as some kuehs for yours truly, I rushed to the MPPJ Stadium. The thought on my mind was not the Police, but where to park since I anticipated people spilling out the stadium. Pictures of the infamous 'police riot' at the Jalan Kebun gathering nearly a decade ago too, flashed through my mind (police personnel were captured on film breaking windows and denting cars belonging to civilians), prompting me to think hard for a safe parking, perhaps, even within the complex of my old office at Kelana Centre Point. However, my fears for a safe parking and 'police riot' soon turned needless; as I turn into the road off the Subang Airport Highway, there were no signs of the Police, and the anticipated huge crowd turned out to be a mere trickle.

I parked the car in a nice spot and soon as the camera was loaded, walked the short distance to the stadium. Along the way, I got into a chat with several people, who were also complaining about the poor turnout. However, the day being still young, I shook off the disappointment and walked into the stadium, making a beeline to Wak, who already had his camera on tripod on the tracks. As we talked, a hair-trimmed and plummer Amin Black joined us. And the crowd size, soon swelled.

Leaving Wak at his post, I began moving along the crowd before taking position at the Podium, where I met YB Tn Hj Sha'ari Sungib, and had a small chat with him. But when the Hindraff supporters began chanting and singing, we parted ways as I tried to take shots of them. Unfortunately, the angle where I was standing was poor and the crowd watching blocked the little view I had. Since I was nicely positioned for the Podium, I refused to budge for fear that other cameramen might take my place, so I let Hindraff be. And true enough, soon, more cameramen made their way up, including Kamal of Malaysiakini TV.

After getting close-up shots of several speakers, I joined Wak for a short while before making my way around again. By then, more people had streamed onto the track.

As I mentioned in an earlier entry, I do find the need to get myself a Digital SLR as there is so much a video camera can do. And in a crowd estimated around 20,000, there were certainly an abundant of shots begging to be taken. Off course, these would also include shots of...ahem, natural beauties.

Moving around, I spotted a well-built man with a black serban rolling a rokok daun, and sat beside him. After the salam, we got to know each other where I bummed one of his hand rolls. The man said he is from Terengganu and had come with 7 others in 2 cars, specifically for this event. He also mentioned that there were several roadblocks along the way here, and saw several buses being turned back, a repetition of events preceding 10-11. But perhaps the funniest thing he said was "Takdok FRU tak syoklah!", as though the FRU has become a personal thing to him and perhaps, to the veterans of such events as well. The same sentiment was later repeated by several others, making one wonder the state of affairs we are living in; even Harris of People's Parliament mentioned of others saying the same thing to him. But mostly, Harris and I touched on our school days.

As I was shooting the other end of the covered stand, my eyes caught the sight of an elderly man sitting cross-leg on a block of cement. His looks are unmistakable for anyone else and soon as his eyes met mine, I rushed to him and we hugged each other in joy for its been more than 10 years since we met. Cikgu Hasbullah, is an old family friend and was very close with both my parents. And like my parents, he too is now a pensioner, and now living with one of his sisters in Subang Jaya. But boy, had someone taken shots of our hugging, I would have to say goodbye to any political aspirations I might have. Good thing I don't. But it was like 'Drama In Real Life', or a Hindustani movie, if you prefer.

By 1pm when the emcee announced a break for the day, I was ready to head back. The event, however, resumed at 2pm and will continue on till midnight tonight. InsyAllah, there will be a Solat Sunat Hajat after Isyak, which I believe will be lead by Tok Guru Nik Aziz. I, however, will not be able to join them. And after that, Amin Black too will be performing. As for the video shots, I guess all of us will have to wait till webtv8 converts them. This time, I definitely will ask for a copy which I will put in this blog, insyAllah.


ps. Bro Zul, if you are reading this and was referring to the ISA as written by Ustaz Saiful, then believe me, I stand for their cause too. Way sometime back, I, being a blog writer of no significance, wrote something about it which can be read here.

Geram!

Hmm...its one of those days when I can't figure the equivalent of a Malay word in English. It can't be seething mad, as depending on the usage, 'geram' can also be for something adorable like in a cute baby or...like the way I put it to some lady friends who utter the word in reference to that cakapaje guy, "Kalau geram, peluklah!". Off course, they never do. Rather unfortunate for me though as its been a very long time since I had a good hug by a lady. Last I remember, I was about 10 years old when one did.

Anyway, the 'geram' I mention here is in context of the price hike protest tomorrow, organised by Protes. As most would have known by now, the venue has been changed to the MPPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya. And though it might be late of me to put it here, GERAMM, the Gerakan Rakyat Anti Manipulasi Minyak (http://www.geramm.org/v1/) has begun their On-line Petition to protest against the price hike. If you are interested, kindly visit their page and sign the petition.
(Update 10:54pm): Please visit and read My Malaysiaku for and interesting article on petrol.

On another note, I wonder how many of my friends remember the song below, which unfortunately, is in a karaoke video format.

Bad Connection

Last week Doc TA in Melaka who was complaining about bad connections. Now, these past couple of days, I'm suffering from it. Sometimes, it got to point of ridiculous, especially when one can't get to one's email boxes, be it yahoo! or Google. The last time this happened some months back, the TM Call Center said nothing is wrong with connections in Malaysia and that it might be some external problem; I was made to feel like a fool then. So, no way I'm going to complaint now until I can ascertain where the problem lies. To make matters worst tonight, the only TV series I like have been taken off the air.

Previous to Eureka, I only watch Spooks. But since they juggled the airtime, I was as lost as the 'Lost' series. Now, it seems I will have to make do without Eureka. Sigh. I'm beginning to think there's someone in Astro and TV3 who does not like me. I can't help feeling that way as every time I like a show, it mysteriously disappear; Stargate SG1, and Stargate Atlantis, 2 other shows I really dig, as well as Early Edition.

Anyway, I called shirzad last night to ask of his well being. Alhamdulillah, he is OK but rather busy with some projects. InsyAllah, next week he'll be able to blog again, he says. And he also asked me to convey his 'salam' to everyone.

Last but not least - especially for everyone in Selangor and KL - kindly do not forget the 6th July Protes Rally at Padang Timur PJ. InsyAllah, I'll be there donning webtv8's vest after going A.W.O.L. for a very long time. Hopefully, I will not come out limping as I did on 10-11.
ps. Poster taken from minahkaypoh's blog.

A Protes I Will Miss

They say, before a boxer or a fighter delivers his killing blow to his opponent, the boxer would first deliver a 'diversionary' punch that would

1. distract his opponent's attention,
2. weaken the opponent, or
3. cause the opponent's confidence to inflate and making him think he's indestructible.

If the diversion works and the punch lands on the desired spot, then hell, that's a bonus! If the punch is blocked and fails in its objective, then it is still considered a success as the opponent's attention is diverted and his guard drops momentarily. It is within that single time frame when this happens, is the moment when the boxer would muster all the strength he has and deliver a telling blow that ought to bring the fight to end.

This same strategy is also said to have been used by military strategist throughout the ages and perhaps was a leaf taken from Sun Szu's Art of War Doctrine which states "Should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak." To be honest, I don't know. I was never a military strategist, nor have I been a fighter. The only art of self defence I managed to learn by myself is a Malay silat called "Silat Langkah Seribu." Perhaps I will touch on this later as I do not distract you from the main issue.

Tomorrow at 3pm, Protes will be holding a protest against the oil price hike in Malaysia which has led to the increase of several essential consumer items such as flour, oil and a few more. And this in turn has led to the rising prices in flour-based items and even caused cooking oil shortage. Though the protest to be held somewhere near the KLCC tomorrow will in no way - to borrow a phrase MB likes to us - affect the price of pork belly in the market, it will nevertheless still be held as a sign of the rakyat's displeasure on the matter.

When the first protest was held sometime last year at the same place as tomorrow, webtv8 and I were able to attend and record the entire event. Perhaps, due to another protest march held at the same time and place - The Condemnation of the Prophet's (s.a.w.) Caricature in several European countries - there were no untoward incidents even though the police did try to intimidate with their helicopters flying dangerously low especially in view of the tall buildings in the vicinity. Still, the protesters held on till the end and then disbursed peacefully after that. However, tomorrow may see a different kind of ending to the protest, especially in view of the much anticipated upcoming election. And sadly, I may have to give it a miss on the accounts of my leg, though I am very sure my brothers-in-arms at webtv8 will be there in full force. I ask my friends here to pray for the safety of the protesters tomorrow. Irrespective of the outcome, I take it as a blessing already, insyAllah.

To me, the protest tomorrow may be likened to the strategy mentioned above. Though it may have never been planned to be such, the opportunity of striking such blow came our way when the blundering DPM said the opposition and the rakyat should use places such as Bukit Jalil to hold our gathering. We will be holding to his words even if the police once again deny the permit for a gathering, as they had for the November 10, ISA Virgil, and even the protest tomorrow.

For tomorrow, if the protesters succeed to the end without police provocation, then they would have made their voice heard again to the world, especially to the people in KL. And should there be police provocation and blood is drawn as it was in Batu Buruk, it would be the spark for a bigger turnout on February 23, insyAllah. The momentum built hopefully would carry through to the General Election which many say will be in March. Which ever way you look at it, it is the rakyat who will win in the end.

As for me, my leg should heal sufficiently to run around for the event on February 23, as I did on November 10, and the first Protes march earlier.

Now, back to the 'Silat Seribu Langkah', should anyone not be aware of such art, then I will gladly impart my knowledge for a nominal fee of...shall we put it at RM,500? Hey! Its a one in a lifetime deal! No? Well, ok, you don't know what you are missing.

UPDATE 9pm: For further info on the protest, please visit squeak, squeak, squeak and Roslan SMS.