Emporium Blog

I live in an apartment and I have to use the lift everyday. Today is quite a memorable day. The lift opens up and there’s this young, petite and beautiful lady inside. I don’t remember seeing her before. She is definitely not from my floor.

I live high up and there will be some time before the lift hit ground floor. For the moment, there’s just the two of us, alone in the lift. I took my position and stand behind her. She has this almost perfect curvature, clearly outlined waist and hips. Her almost blemish free complexion and great features would make any man drool in lust. (more…)

Faith freedom has been trampled on. Article 11 of the Federal Constitution states that every person has the right to profess and practice his religion is not respected or adhered to. Rukunegara that I have almost religiously recite since my schooling time is no more relevant. I have been betrayed.

The Five Principles of Nationhood or Rukunegara was formulated after the racial riots of May 13, 1969, in an attempt to base the national philosophy on unity and progressiveness (as a whole), whereby concepts which are universal and acceptable to all Malaysian citizens, regardless of ethnic origin or religious affiliation, were adopted as the ideology of the country.

The principles enshrined in the Rukunegara were officially introduced on Aug 31, 1970, in the hopes that it would strengthen national unity in Malaysia’s multicultural society. The declaration of the five principles has been formulated as follows:

Our nation, Malaysia is dedicated to:

• Achieving a greater unity for all her peoples;
• Maintaining a democratic way of life;
• Creating a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably distributed;
• Ensuring a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions; and
• Building a progressive society which shall be orientated to modern science and technology.

We, her peoples, pledge our united efforts to attain these ends guided by these principles:

1. Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan Allah (Belief in God Allah)
2. Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara (Loyalty to King and Country)
3. Keluhuran Perlembagaan (Supremacy of the Constitution)
4. Kedaulatan Undang-undang (Rule of Law)
5. Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan (Mutual Respect and Morality)

Lina Joy appeal was a historic one with legal and social repercussions yet to be seen with the decision going against her. The findings made by the courts is inconsistent at best.

Lina Joy is a Malay convert from Islam to Christianity. Born Azlina Jailani in 1963 or 1964 to Muslim parents, she converted at age 26. In 1998, she was baptised, and applied to have her conversion legally recognised by the Malaysian courts. Though her change of name was recognised in 1999 and so noted on her identity card, her change of religion was not (since it is without the Mahkamah Syariah confirmation document); for this reason, she filed suit with the High Court in 1999, by passing Syariah Court (Islamic court), and then with the Federal Court in 2006. Joy hopes to live openly as a Christian; she was forced to go into hiding by the publicity surrounding her case.

In a majority verdict delivered on the May 30, 2007, the Federal Court rejected her appeal. Her appeal was dismissed 2-1 by Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Datuk Alauddin Mohd Sheriff; the dissenting Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Richard Malanjum wrote that “Hence, in my view this is tantamount to unequal treatment under the law. In other words it is discriminatory and unconstitutional and should therefore be struck down. For this reason alone, the relief sought for by the appellant should be granted, namely for a declaration that she is entitled to have an identity card in which the word ‘Islam’ does not appear.”

Legal recognition would have allowed her to have the change of religion noted on her national identity card; it will also remove the barrier to her marrying her Christian fiance (marriage between Muslims and non-Muslims is forbidden under Malaysian law; typically, the non-Muslim partner is required to convert to Islam). At the moment, Syariah Court alone have the power to deal of Islamic issues, including conversion of religion to and from Islam, which is not something unknown. According to Muslim Lawyers Association spokesman Pawanchek Merican, “..In Negeri Sembilan, the syariah court allow 16 people to renounce Islam ….”.

It had been hoped that Joy’s case would ultimately determine whether Malaysian Muslims can circumvent Syariah Court, and it had become a rallying cause for interfaith, women’s rights, and civil rights groups in Malaysia. According to a senior official in the National Registration Department, for the NRD to change the religion on her identity card would mean that the department would be officially declaring her an apostate, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court. The jurisdiction of the Syariah Court over converts from Islam to other religions has been hotly debated by the Malaysian public in the past few years, with this and other court cases involving converts closely followed by the media. Joy is not the first person to apply for recognition of conversion from Islam; another woman named only as “Maria” by the BBC is also pursuing a similar case. Furthermore, in 2006, Malaysian courts granted recognition for the 1936 conversion from Islam to Buddhism of Nyonya Tahir; however, Tahir was deceased by that time.

Malaysian Paypal users cannot accept any payments since 10th May 2007. Paypal requires entering a U.S. Bank Account in order to accept payments. Many suspect and thought that it is a change of policy for Malaysia. It turned out to be a false alarm. It is a technical glitch afterall and they finally rectify it after fifteen long days. Everything is back to normal now.

When you have payment and clicked to accept it, you are brought to the familiar page where you have a choice of Accept Payment But Don’t Add a Bank Account Now. Click Submit and the next screen appears.

Malaysian Paypal users are not discriminated after all. However, this episode has proven that many Malaysians find it hard to go the right way during time of crisis. Some has gone to the extend of entering a fake U.S. Bank account number in order to accept payment during the period of technical glitch.

It is this group of people that gives Malaysia a bad name in the eye of the world. Shame on you!

According to the Wiki, Futsal is an indoor version of football. Futsal is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. Boleh-Futsal in the other hand is a totally diferent ball game altogether.

Boleh-Futsal as seen in the picture is played in an enclosed compound but it is still an open area. In fact it is played in what should effectively be called a Tennis Court, minus the nets of course.

Instead of two teams of five players, Boleh-Futsal has two opposing teams of seven a side, with one side (left-side in the picture) without the goalkeeper. The number of players each side are often determined by who is present that day, up to 20 players a side is not uncommon. There is no half time or full time, it ends normally at dinner time or when the ball owner wants it to end.

To add to the spirit of “Apa Pun Boleh”, players can wear anything and any colour they like, as long as it is not batik. Shorts or jeans, long sleeves or sleeveless, boots or barefooted, anything goes. Team players recognise each other by way of shouting and swearing at each other.

Normally there will be no referee or lines-man, the side who shouts the loudest and argues with the most vulgarities has the advantage.

A goal is scored when the ball crosses the line marked by a pair of slippers. The distance between the slippers varies from team to team. Handicap is given to the weaker team by means of a smaller distance between the slippers making it harder for the stronger team to score.

(more…)

I met an old acquaintance a few days ago, he was my classmate. We exchanged greetings, shake hands and hugged each other like long lost friends. It was a pleasant surprise, having bumped into someone I have not met for such a long time.

We had a few drinks and conversation was all about life when we were young and carefree. We promised to catch up with each other, have gatherings more often. That would be nice.

To cut the story short, we went to the toilet together. That is when I lost all my initial excitement and wished I have never bumped into him.

To my horror, he did not bother to wash his hands after peeing!

Feeling disgusted, I asked him straight in the face, “Why didn’t you wash your hands?” He smiles and say, “Why must?” I am lost for words.

Projet has the cleanest, most well maintained toilet in Malaysia, many can attest to this statement a few years ago. Now the toilets are dark, wet, smells, has drippy faucets, vandalised and pasted with stickers offering services from money lenders to massage parlours.

I wet my pant in one of the toilets, it has this fountain that will aim a gush of water at the most embarrassing spot on your pants the moment the tap is turned. I turned the faucet aiming the other way in order to capture this picture.

News has it that Projet Petrol Stations in Malaysia will be re-branded as Shell Stations at the end of the year. A case of if you don’t buck up, you get taken up.

Why are most of the public toilets in such a sorry state throughout Malaysia? Lack of maintenance or the people are not civilised enough to use them properly?

Many apartments/condominiums have a private pool. Malaysia is among the few countries in the world where you can find people swimming with clothes on. Although there is a dress code to adhere to, people are simply not civilized enough to follow it.

Recently, dress codes in private pools at apartments/condominiums have been relaxed to allow for additional modesty. Many pool operators allow people to swim fully clothed if they can prove that they have a second set of clothes that are only for use in the pool, and if they are willing to go through the showers in this second set of clothes prior to entering the pool. I would understand and fully agree if this applies to women, but that is a man in the pool.

In more developed countries, private pools simply do not allow clothed swimming for hygienic reasons. I would never go into a pool if I see someone there fully clothed. Maybe that’s the reason why I have not swim in a pool for a long time.

Malaysia is notorious for it’s dirty toilets or rather lack of them. I live in a high rise apartment, or condominium. Malaysian in general loves to refer to apartments as condominiums, maybe because the word exudes a certain luxury ring to it. Don’t be mislead.

Basically condominium means a large property complex that is divided into individual units and sold. Ownership usually includes a non-exclusive interest in certain “common properties” controlled by the condominium management.

After years of living in such property complex, I am sad to say that people at some of these places is not ready for communal living yet.

Back to the question: Where to Pee?
Answer:
1) Beneath the staircase.
2) Inside the lift.
3) Aim so that it just misses the urinal in the common toilet.
4) On the wall, inside the community hall.
5) In the swimming pool.

Dogs? No, I meant humans, really.