Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM!
The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!

Very Respectfully,
Scott Sonnon 

Perceptions and Deceptions: We are not Fools

Our political leaders evidently have a not-so-smart-ass response for everything under the hazy Malaysian sun.Some – the few who can read – probably would have read that story about the French queen, Marie Antoinette, apparently saying `Let them eat cake’ upon learning that the French peasants had no bread.

Yes, perhaps that is why our Home Minister, upon hearing that the ISA detainees were on a hunger strike, twittered that it was the choice of the ISA detainees to hold the hunger strike, just as it was his choice to have lamb chops.

Not very sensitive of him, it could be argued. But then, neither was the French Queen who, history tells us, was later executed by guillotine. Yes, she had her head chopped off.

Many of our politicians, I think, share this misconception that they are so darn smart and can deliver flippant comments, inane lines and get away with it.

In the pre-Internet days, this probably would have been true. Then newspapers, radio and television were virtually the only sources of news. Hence, they could lie through their teeth, say nasty things about every being under, yes, the Malaysian sun, and get away with it all.

Media self-censorship now an art form

Why? Because the print and broadcast media then – as now – were owned and controlled by them or their parties and would not dream of publishing or broadcasting their stupid, insensitive comments. It would have been bad PR – and certainly bad karma for any suicidal editor who dared publish the comments.

Then – but more so now – media self-censorship has been raised to an art form.

However, the introduction of the Internet into this country, and its rapid expansion over the past five years or so, have changed that a teeny-weeny bit.
So, much as the mainstream media may ignore important issues such as the NFC scandal, the PFKZ disaster, the orchestrated violence on BERSIH 3.0 and, of course, the financially-huge Scorpene debacle, these events and issues will no longer just go away.

Instead, they continue to be investigated, headlined and exposed by theInternet media that, over the relatively short period of 10 to 15 years, have consolidated – nay, firmly entrenched – themselves as serious players in this game of providing images, meanings and explanations.

So, although quite a number of these jaguh kampung politicians – and their bit part supporting actors in the civil (dis)service – still are clueless about how the Internet at times can strip them naked, there are a few who, I believe, feel they need to spend tonnes (perhaps of our money) on giving their image a positive makeover.

‘You need to be cool with the kids’

They learn to use the social media. Unfortunately, an idiot remains an idiot, whatever the communication technology at hand. Hence, garbage in, garbage out.

They hire image and public relations consultants who, for a princely sum, tell them that, despite the protruding belly and the fast-receding hairline, they need to be cool with the kids.

So, not having much in between their ears, they take Fredric Wertham’s book title as their aim in life, little realising that Seduction of the Innocent was essentially an attack on comic books and not a manual for paedophiles.

They learn to change names and titles, thinking that we are all as idiotic as them for us to believe that a National Harmony Act would be so much more palatable than the Sedition Act that it is meant to replace.

They learn one-liners and even one-word retorts. Like the currently overused word `perception’. When what’s actually on their mind is deception. So, when even their darling mainstream rags report that crimes may be on the increase, they throw out problematic and evidently inconsistent `statistics’ that are supposed to prove otherwise. But do no such thing.

Then, they roll out this by-now tired cliché that `These fears are all based on perception and that all is actually well’.But they forget two things at least.

First that there’s still the more skeptical Internet media to contend with. This despite their threats to muzzle even this media via amendments to the Evidence Act and the setting of a `social media council’ to enable (state?) regulation of the Internet.

Second, they forget that the more they attempt to deceive us by putting everything down to ‘our’ perceptions, ‘our’ illogical, irrational and unfounded fears, the more they begin to sound like the boy who cried wolf.

Indeed, they forget that `perception’ can work the other way as well; that we might – indeed, we will – perceive them as a bunch of liars, a group of deceivers, a cabinet of con artists.

And, really, truly, that’s not a perception they can afford going into the next general election.

1. Money scandal involving people of  RM12.7 billion .

Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik  pleaded not guilty on two prosecution under Section 418 and 417 of the Penal Code for allegedly deceiving the Cabinet on projects valued at  RM12.7 billion  it. Former President of MCA is accused of deceiving the Cabinet to agree to approve the  purchase of land being 999.5 acres owned by Malay fishermen's cooperative  in Pulau Indah, at RM25 per sq ft, with interest rate of 7.5 percent, far higher value than actual value in the market. He also issued a letter directing the PKFZ project was given to the New Dimension Sdn Bhd, owned by BN Supporters Club Chairman, Dato Seri Tiong King Sing.

2. Commission for the purchase of submarines of  RM500 million .

• The original purchase price:  € 1.14 billion (RM4.52 billion)
• Long-term maintenance cost: € 999.15 million  ( RM3.964 billion ) to Perimekar Sdn Bhd for the works long-term maintenance of the submarine in 2002. 

Additional applications  of the Ministry of Defence in  the Budget Session 2011

• RM417 million  to finance the maintenance contract (In Service Support) of two Scorpene submarines
• RM56 million  for rental payment services Submarine Escape Rescue System Intervention (SMER-1).
• Previously, the government had to pay  € 999.15 million  ( RM3.964 billion ) - See above.

3. Loss on purchase of assets by Sime Darby  to RM1.6 billion .

• Loss due to cost overruns amounting to about RM1.6 billion, involving oil and gas projects  and Maydan Mahzam Bulhanine in Qatar  as well as projects Bakun hydroelectric .

Links:  Sime Darby loss of RM1.6 billion, the CEO ordered a holiday

4. Loss (bailout) Smelting Corporation's Mirzan Mahathir of  RM1.7 billion.

• MISC (a subsidiary of Petronas) has been directed by Mahathir (then PM) to buy assets Smelting Corporation with funding of RM1.7 billion  to save the shipping company(Konsotium Perkapalan Berhad) owned by his son, Mirzan.

5. Paya Indah Wetland maintenance cost of  RM88 million.

6. Loss of Pos Malaysia (Transmile)  RM546 million.

7. Eurocopter purchase agreement of  RM1.67 billion.

• Price offered by  Eurocopter Malaysia  selected by the government:  RM1.67 billion
• Price  Kelowna Flightcraft  to helicopter alternatives:  RM865 million (Government can save  RM805 million )

Links:  The issue of purchase of Eurocopter

8. Cost of repair the collapsed roof of Terengganu Stadium  RM292 million.

9. The cost to repair the damage MRR2 of  RM70 million

10. Overpaid bills Maybank account of  RM4 billion.

11. Mash-side (kickbacks) to Ng Yen Yen at the Ministry of Tourism  RM10 million.

12. The cost of buying three paintings by MAS of  RM1.5 million . 13. Excess payment by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of  RM8.4 million. 14. Expenses Sports Complex in London white elephant of  RM70 million. 15. MATRADE building overhaul of  RM120 million. 16. The cost of jet fuel, and maintenance of the use of PM  RM200 million. 17. Debt can not be claimed InventQ of  RM228 million. 18. Cancellation of the crooked bridge to pay damages of RM257 million. 19. Loss in sales transactions Augusta of  RM510 million.


13. The value of government revenue loss of  Approved Permits (APs)  issued for a period of one year of RM1.8 billion.

14. Maintenance of the submarines KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Rzak (will be artifacts of the National Museum) of  RM4.1 billion.

15. Construction and maintenance of PSC Naval Dockyard Moss  RM6.75 billion.

16. Two at wal Bank scandal of the 1980s of U.S. $ 1 billion with an estimated value of the loss in 2008 of  RM3.2 billion.

17. Maminco failure in an attempt to dominate the world lead in the 1980's is believed to result in a loss of U.S. $ 500 million. ( RM1.6 billion ) 25. Bets in financial futures futures markets abroad cause loss of Bank Negara Malaysia  RM30 billion  in 1990-an. 26. Perwaja Steel loss of U.S. $ 800 million ( RM2.56 billion ). 27. Use of public funds of  RM10 billion  in operating Valuecap Sdn Bhd to boost the stock market value. 28. Islamic Bank financial scandal involving a loss of  RM700 million.


18. MV Augusta sale price of  € 1 (one Euro)  resulted in a loss of € 75.99 million ( RM348 million ) - the same as No. 18? 30. Wang Ehsan Terengganu royalty loss of  RM7.4 billion (between the years 2004 to 2007) 31. Since the establishment of the Petronas Philharmonic Orchestra for over 10 years ago, it has a cost of  RM500 million  y  RM1 million  per year paid as salaries and remuneration to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). 32. Advisory fees: Mahathir was paid  RM180, 000 , Shahrizat Abdul Jalil (Minister of Women)  RM404, 726  and Abdul Hamid Othman (Religion)  RM549, 675  each year. 33. The government has spent RM3.2 billion  for the implementation of the Teaching and Learning Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) during the first five years of implementation. Of the total, the government had to pay  RM2.21 billion  for the purchase of various equipment technology, information and communications technology (ICT) but had no details of the expenses shown.

The Government has paid  RM6k  for each computer laptop / notebook available in the market with price under RM3k. Several consortia have been established solely to 'operate in on-air' distribution of all equipment and hardware. Currently, most equipment and appliances have become the child's teachers who are involved in PPSMI.

19. Commission has been paid to two private companies that handle the purchase of submarines  Scorpene  is Perimeker Sdn Bhd and IMT Defence Sdn Bhd amounted to RM910 million . No nothing to do with. Two. 35. Government to pay  RM300 million  in compensation paid to the prime portal for cancellation of the crooked bridge construction valued at RM1.1 billion. 36.  RM1.3 billion  has been wasted on white elephant construction of complex facilities' Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) when canceled crooked bridge project. 37. Spend  RM100 million  for the work of repair and leak Parliament of Malaysia.


20. National Space Program at a cost -  RM40 million

21. Estimated at  RM500 million  a year spent on the National Service Training 40. Eye loss of Malaysia -  RM30 million  and  RM5.7 million  in grants and free tickets. 41. Incurring a loss of  RM2.4 million  for the purchase of indelible ink 42. In September 2006, Samy Velu announced that the government had to pay damages amounting to  RM38.5 billion  to 20 highway operators. Lebihraya nine toll operator received a windfall of RM380 million from the toll increase in 2008 alone. 43. Mash-side (kickbacks) of  RM32 million  timber export value by companies associated with the Chief Minister and his family. 44. Losing twice (bailout) by Malaysia Airline System (MAS) which totaled  RM7.9 billion . At a time when MAS faced with losses in every year, a total of  RM1.5 million  was spent to buy THREE paintings to decorate the office of MAS chairman Munir Majid. (Related to No. 11.) 45. Loss (bailout) Putra Transport System of  RM4.486 billion.


22. Loss (bailout) STAR-LRT of RM3.256 billion. 47. Loss (bailout) National Sewerage System valued at  RM192.54 million. 48. Loss (bailout) Seremban-Port Dickson Highway of  RM142 million. 49. Loss (bailout) Kuching Prison worth  RM135 million. 50. Loss (bailout) Food Research and Applied Muslims of RM8.3 million. 51. Loss (bailout) Le Tour de Langkawi of RM3.5 million. 52. Wholesale distribution of hundreds of millions of shares in Bursa Malaysia to hide under the New Economic Policy (NEP) to cronies, relatives, the sons of the minister and BN leaders worth  billions of dollars.

23. Move-owned tens of thousands of hectares of commercial land and forest concessions to the children and families of the Minister and BN leaders worth  billions of dollars.

24. Loss since 1997 when Petronas signed an agreement with an undisclosed NOMINEE SIX in petroleum futures trading country with cheap price for a long time. When the price of petroleum products increased, Petronas sold to SIX nominees remain at a cheap price has been agreed.

To accommodate the use of petroleum in the country, Petronas had to buy from outside suppliers to the current and result in people having to bear the price increase in world oil price movement. Actually, no futures contract, Petronas reaping huge profits in accordance with current market prices. With this profit, Petronas can share the cheap price of petroleum products for use in people.

25.  RM5700  to buy a car jack unit is priced at RM50. (*) 56. Government-owned vehicles petrol tank sip worth  RM113  in a few minutes. (*) 57. Flagpole platform bought RM990 worth RM30, 000  (*) 58. Thumb drive cost RM90 was bought for  RM480  ​​(*) 59. Goods storage cabinet RM1, 500 was bought for  RM13, 500  (*) 60. Purchasing a flashlight worth the price paid RM35  to RM143.  (*)


(*) - Mentioned are quoted for ONE UNIT. Government buying in bulk form between tens to thousands of units of the same item.

26. Campaign spending  1Malaysia  paid to APCO of  RM76.8 million.

27. Pay subsidy  of RM17 billion  to Independent Power Producers (IPP)

28. Diamond ring valued at  USD24 million  for Ro $ mah --- supposedly purchase has been canceled - what is the total compensation paid to people? 64. A 1pengguna website for the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism is built and maintained at a cost of  RM1.4 million .

29. 1Malaysia e-mail project costing  RM50 million.

66. Using the Pension Trust Fund (PTF), the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Danaharta and Khazanah to buy shares which have been dishonored TimeDotCom - a loss of  RM3.3 billion.

30. Offshore scandal Petrol Vehicle (PSC-NDSB) - loss  RM6.75 billion

31. Rosmah hotel room rental  RM100, 000  a night at the Burj Al Arab Dubai!! 69. Rosmah and Najib rent penthouse at Darling Hotel in Sydney at the rate of RM65, 100 for day and night. 70. "Study Tour" to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bangladesh Rosmah and the Gang (FLOM @ First Lady of Malaysia) borne by the government amounted to  RM134, 317.76 . 71.Allocated RM100 million a year to spend in personal project Rosmah 'Negara'nya gems.


32. Rosmah to control spending by First Ladies Summit involving 15 women were wives of heads of state of the majority of African countries at a cost  of RM4.5 million  for the period of THREE days.

33. Seri Perdana renovation cost of  RM12.5 million .

34. PM's official residence in electricity bills and TPM in Seri Perdana of  RM160, 000 per month. 75. Incinerator in Broga, Semenyih, the BN government on their stupidity did not hear complaints of the people, had wasted billions of dollars to cancel the project. Incinerators which weighs 1,500 tonnes and utilizing fluidized bed gasification "supposedly the largest in Asia estimated to cost RM1.5 billion (approximately USD395 million) for construction and RM200 million (USD53 million) for operating costs each year. 76. NFC projects 250 million

35.Tajuddin Ramli's RM589 million debt written off by the government? 78. What about the sales transaction Highway MEX? Are government grants of public money that is given to Maju Holdings of more than RM900 million has been returned?

Vote for Change (& for our rights!)

I have one solution for the Indians in Malaysia, follow the foot steps of Dr M. First he denounce his Indian race to be Malay, then joins UMNO to seize power and money. The only set back is that you can convert to be a Muslim but cannot change your race as it is in your DNA. Indians must see the bigger picture. This is a very good write up by P Dev Anand Pilla. A must read especially for all Malaysians. He wrote so well as a true Malaysian Indian.Indians must see the bigger picture May 22, 2012 P Dev Anand Pillai,... The butt dance in front of Bersih co-chair S Ambiga's residence in Bukit Damansara brought about a lot to the fore front of our minds that has been deliberately hidden all this while. The Malays in Umno have been directed to see this as a racial issue instead of a national issue where the people are seeking reform in the way we register our citizens and run our elections. The butt dance actually goes to show how the Indians were viewed by the ruling Umno-BN-MIC regime for the past 55 years. If it can be that easy to belittle and shame a person in front of her own residence just because she is an Indian, what have we been doing for the past 55 years with regard to race relations? They did not do the same for Pak Samad and Khairy Jamaluddin who had objected to such behaviour of the men who claim to be ex-veterans of the armed forces. Why they did not perform the butt dance at the residences of Pak Samad and Khairy is very obvious. Selling beef burgers in front of her house knowing very well that she is a vegetarian only goes to show how Indians can be easily ridiculed by any perpetrator without worrying about what the consequences will be as long as they know at the back of their minds that their act has the tacit consent of the State and its cohorts. After the Hindraf revolution and the results of the 2008 election, the real picture as to how they preceive Indians especially Hindu-Indians in this country was clearly seen for all to witness. Carrying a bovine head to the State Secretariat, stepping and spitting on it, regularly calling Hindu students 'pariahs' and belittling their faith has all become too common. This is the actual mask that has now come off from the false one that they have been putting on all this while whilst the Indians were faithfully voting en bloc for the Umno-BN regime. The often heard of calls that " Ambiga is a Hindu woman", "Ambiga is anti-Islam" and most recently in Merlimau, Melaka where they were carrying placards which read "Am babi ga" very clearly shows that the Indians have only been made use of all this while. Prior to the coming in of the Bangladeshi work force, the Indians were relied upon for all the menial work which nobody had wanted to do. But come the general elections,the leaders of the ruling regime will come to the palm oil and rubber estates, villages and urban squatter settlement where the poorer Indian masses reside to try their hand in carrying babies and feeding the old folks; all this done in the name of getting the votes. Whilst they do this, they will promise that nearest Tamil school will be upgraded and be given full government aid. Years will pass and the next election will come and the process is repeated again and again. When the Indians finally woke up after 50 years of submission to the regime in 2007, the real picture is now seen for the whole world to witness. Generally the Malays are very kind and warm people, but continous indoctrination that they will be dominated by the Chinese and the Indians in their own land has made a cross section of them very vary of the non-Malays in general. During the 70s and 80s when the last batch of Kirby and Brindsford Lodge trained teachers were still teaching in our schools under the supervision and guidance of the Christian missionaries many of whom were heading the schools as their principals, racism was there but it was not allowed to fester like what it has come to today. The Christian missionaries did a good job at instilling discipline and a liking towards school where every contribution by any student was taken into account. Many Indian students who came from poor backgrounds sometimes orphaned or from broken homes were taken in by the missionaries and turned into worthy citizens. The best were in the first class and the rest were streamed accordingly to encourage competition. Levels were set and the students had to reach that level at every term exam so as not to be demoted the following year. There were many veteran teachers who were good English speakers and the influx of the new generation of teachers had slowly begun at that time till to date where we have many students correcting the level of English which their teachers speak. What the Indians have to learn from this is that the teachers of yesteryears did not call their wards " Hindu Pariah" like what that young teacher did in SMK Georgetown in Penang; teachers those days were respected by all the races because they encouraged participation amongst all and did not favour anyone. The best was chosen to represent the school. Be the person Malay, Chinese or Indian, if he met the requirement he was chosen. The rules were not bent like what happens now. Indians have to note that after 2008, they can see for themselves the inner being of the members of the party that they so trusted all this while. The members of the ruling regime have just poured scorn on the Indians for objecting and protesting for not being given an equal chance at all avenues of oppurtunity that is availed to one. Tamil schools now saw that if the corruption loopholes are plugged and the State government is changed, they would have the money to donate to them for the upgrading and well being of the school. Prior to that Tamil schools had to beg and beg. Hindu temples were at the mercy of the current regime prior to 2008, when demolishment was taking place unhindered till the rise of Hindraf but after 2008, some state governments even had the money to donate to the building of new temples and the refurbishment of old ones! The true racist agenda of the regime is now clearly exposed for all to see. The Indians will have to rise to the occasion and move forward to support the thinking Malay who believes in equality. Because by believing in it, the thinking Malay is doing himself and the generations to come a great favour which is to have a sense of pride and confidence in one's ability as opposed to continously seeking to be the rentier class who couldn't care a damn about what happens as long as they get their cut of the pie and the gravy train continues to pass their way with a lot of goodies overflowing. Being stateless in a land in which they have been born in for decades is a problem that most Indians in the rural estates have been facing but up until 2008, the problem was always swept under the carpet. There were some in MIC who helped but the vast majority couldn't be bothered because they were afraid of offending their Umno superiors whom they had built a bond with for common cause which is to continuously fool the people. Low cost houses could not be obtained until the right person is tipped. Usually a division chairman will be calling the shots and for those who paid, their chances will be brighter. All this came into the limelight after the Indians were finally awakened by the revolt in 2007. The Indians must not be led by the noose anymore, whether we have enough Members of Parliament or State Assemblymen, we must demand equality and respect. *If it takes an Indian woman to teach us about our responsibility as citizens and to ensure that we are registered to vote, then we must support that woman and be proud of the fact that she has taken it upon herself to educate Malaysians of every race, colour and creed to face ugly racist tendencies that we have lurking inside. * The bigger picture is *equality and respect*. Whether it is "Nambikei" or "Vishwaz" nothing can be achieved if there is no equality and respect. What is the use of the head of the administration in Putrajaya saying one thing but his administration does another? If they can show their butts to Ambiga just because she is an Indian, Hindu and has the courage to lead, it won't take long for them to do the same for the next Indian who decides to speak up.   *Let's rise and do the right thing,Vote!* *Vote! and Vote for Change!!* .............................. ............................................................ Please remember, by 7th level this email will reach 1 million people and that is only when each of us forward it to 10 people . Please do it for the sake of our future. This is a good deed that allMalaysians MUST do.It is our duty to save our nation. You are going to save 28 million people. Please do so. YOU CAN MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN!!! Just send this to 10 other relatives or friends and ask them to do the same to 10 of their friends and so on. By so doing we are enlisting the power of multilevel marketing. Yes the math works and it is awesome. By the 7thlevel this message would reach 1,000,000 people. Yes we can make our vote count! Better believe it!! We owe it to ourselves and to our children and to their children. *