Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by axis13

PM Lee implies opposition parties are useless

axis13 — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:22:56 +0800

Ini macham same je kat mesia

PM Lee takes dig at opposition, but gets basic facts wrong

In a forum in London, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took a dig at the Singapore political opposition. Regurgitating what he has said in the past, Mr Lee said the people of Singapore know that “the government generally is doing the right thing” which he described as “the odd thing going on in Singapore.”

“But they like somebody to be there to put a bit more chilli on the government’s tail,” Mr Lee told his audience at the Chatham House Dialogue, hosted by Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP, Chairman, Intelligence and Security Committee; UK Foreign Secretary (1995-97).

[B]Mr Lee said that the opposition is not interested in governing the country.

“And the opposition in the last election didn’t stand to run for government,” he said. “On the contrary they made it a point of saying, ‘We’re not going to run the government. Please vote for me.’.”

He said the opposition “just snipe at the government from time to time and when the election comes, you have the opportunity to make a fuss and rouse issues (sic), and argue again to be re-elected.”

[youtube]LK_9-2S7V_0[/youtube]

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014/03/pm...ic-facts-wrong/

Christina Aguilera told to "cover up" in Malaysia

axis13 — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:03:39 +0800

so i guess....her concert never got cancelled?

Christina Aguilera To Cover Up At The Twin Tower @ Live 2014 Concert

KUALA LUMPUR: Organiser of the Twin Tower @ Live 2014 concert reassures Malaysians that International pop star Christina Aguilera will be clothed decently when she performs at the concert, slated to take place this March 28.

@Live 2014 project advisor from Work Sdn Bhd Dato' Hafez Mohammed said the confirmation is crucial to avoid any controversies.

He said Aguilera’s team has been very supportive since the beginning of their discussions in following the guidelines set for International singers who wish to perform in the country. This is made possible due to the good collaboration between the organizer and the singer's management in the United States.

The powerhouse vocalist is known for her sexy and daring image and is said to be very helpful in obeying all rules and regulations set by the organiser.

"We are excited and honoured to be able to bring in yet another famous International singer here. This will be Christina’s debut performance in Malaysia,” said Hafez.

Aguilera, whose real name is Christina Maria Aguilera, will be performing on the first night of the concert for 75 minutes, backed by about 40 dancers.

[YOUTUBE]iukWSUvOe9A[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]wtNxkoDdpVc[/YOUTUBE]

http://devel.malaysiandigest.com/frontpage...14-concert.html

Poster on SG MRT say eating animal is cruel

axis13 — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 14:04:19 +0800

Vegetarian Society Singapore is spending SGD$50,000 to raise awareness that eating animals is cruel by pasting posters on SG mrt. agree or u think its a waste of time and money??

[YOUTUBE]4P6yH686HEo[/YOUTUBE]

https://www.facebook.com/vegetariansocietysingapore

Why Malaysians come to Singapore?

axis13 — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 13:42:33 +0800

u guys agree with this article?

Why Malaysians come to Spore

Hi , I saw the recent articles about Malaysians involved in several cases and saw some hate comments asking Msians to leave Singapore and how Msians are shits .

First of all I would like to apologise on the behalf of all the Msians crossing to Singapore every now and then . There are 3 different categories of Msians in Singapore :

1) The Students Studying In Singaproe .
2) Real FTs that can actually help strengthen Singapore’s economy
3) The Blue Collar Workers

Most of the people from the 3rd category are the ones who is causing all these troubles .
Some of them decided to come to Singapore because they are school drop outs who can’t speak one English sentence without grammar mistakes ( sadly most students studying in Singapore can’t too ) . Some of them think working in Singapore is glorious . ( I dunno , is it ? working as a waiter or a handphone seller or airport security guards , glorious ? ) and , the main reason , is that Singapore’s currency value is so much higher than RM’s .

Cleaning the floor in the mall for 1000$ a month is already RM2500 there , which is the starting pay for diploma graduate in Msia . Why would I want to study like hell , compete with others , to earn a salary that in other countries I can easily earn by just mopping the floor ? ( Please don’t drag Australia into this ) . To buy a house and a car , even with the lower prices compared to Sg , you still need to make at least RM5k per month , and that is with all the unfairness around , which I will explain below .

Another thing Sg people don’t know is the corruption in Msia is far worse than what is being reported on the news . The magical blackout was an international joke . As a proof that Msia gov is a bunch of idiots sitting on their chairs doing nothing , look at how they handled the MH370 case . I would like to clarify that wasn’t Msians , that was the Msia government . Announcing that the passengers are dead without definite proof ? ( Wow , much professional , very managing skills )(This sentence should be in a meme , it’s not a grammar mistake ) .

Most Sg people don’t know that , the Msian Chinese have to work 10 times as hard compared to the you-know-who ( yes the locals yes I’m afraid of being called a racist ) to get a scholarship . With all the unfairness around , like , 10% of newly built houses are reserved for you-know-who and borrowing loan without credentials and only need to pay back 30% . If you are one of the you-know-who , you don’t have to worry about getting a summon , or business license or , basically , anything . Hell , you can beat a guy up and end up being nominated for the bravest guy of the kampong and etc etc ( if I wanted to make a list this article would be entirely about the list ) .

These are the reasons that drove tens of thousands of Msians to go to Singapore to work or study . If I study 10 times harder than the guy A , be more skilled than guy A , work twice as hard as him , and yet the employer would still hire guy A and make him my boss simply because he is from you-know-who , why would I stay here ? I wanna go somewhere where my talents are appreciated . So , Sg .

Sorry for making it so crowded for you guys . But you have to understand the situation . Not all Msians are shits . I admit , some are , but most of us are just trying to make ends meet . Have you seen the customs during peak season ? Yes most of those are us , squeezing like sandwiches and using brute force to get through the crowd to rush for a bus you are already half an hour late for . Some do it daily . Why ?

Because our government has truly failed us . We did not choose this hectic life . I sincerely apologise and hope that this clears up misunderstandings on “ Msians go back to your country lah ! “ . The truth is , we simply can’t.

NoHatePlease
TRS Contributor

http://therealsingapore.com/content/why-ma...-come-singapore

SG Changi Airport voted world's best airport

axis13 — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 17:05:26 +0800

Changi Airport voted World’s Best Airport

This is the first time Changi Airport has won the accolade for two consecutive years

SINGAPORE — Singapore’s Changi Airport has been voted the World’s Best Airport by air travellers for the second year in a row at this year’s Skytrax World Airport Awards.

It is the first time that Changi Airport has won the top accolade twice in a row, and the fifth time that the airport has been named the world’s favourite airport.

South Korea’s Incheon International Airport took second spot, while Munich Airport was in third place.

The World Airport Awards are based on 12.85 million customer nominations across 110 nationalities of air travellers, and included 410 airports worldwide.

The online survey evaluates customer satisfaction across 39 key performance indicators for airport service and product - from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration, to departure at the gate.

Mr Lee Seow Hiang, chief executive officer of Changi Airport Group, said, “We are honoured to be named World’s Best Airport for the second consecutive year. We appreciate the support given to us by travellers from around the world. This recognition is great motivation for us and spurs us to continue to aim higher.

“At Changi Airport, we remain steadfast in anticipating the needs of our customers, which is the cornerstone of the Changi Experience. We share this honour with our airport community, for their unyielding commitment to service excellence and with our passengers, for their vote of confidence.”

Mr Edward Plaisted, chief executive officer of Skytrax, said: “Changi Airport offers a travel experience in itself and continues to develop its quality standards to be named the world’s favourite airport again.

“Changi Airport demonstrates how to make the airport experience an enjoyable part of the journey that is so important in today’s fast-moving world.”

Changi Airport also received the Best Airport for Leisure Amenities award at the event held at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Barcelona, Spain. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/chang...288381481237582

SINGAPORE: "A Chinese enclave in a Muslim sea"

axis13 — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 14:38:19 +0800

So lowyat members, does it still make sense for SG to spend extravagant $$$ on military since it is paranoid of Malaysia and Indonesia invading it??

Singapore: Small state, big weapons buyer

Singapore's determination to remain independent has fuelled military expansionism - but in a fast-changing global security environment, the militarised city-state may be forced to take sides.

"Our immediate part of the world is changing dramatically," said the Singaporean defence minister, Dr Ng Eng Hen, during a recent unveiling of Singapore's defence plans .

In his opening remarks, the defence minister of this city-state of five million people alluded to the difficult balancing act Singapore has had to master since its independence.

Singapore's foreign policy has long been based on economic partnerships, yet it has refused to enter into any military alliances to preserve these economic interests. Instead, it has devoted a large share of its budget to defence spending, transforming this once-small British outpost into a force to be reckoned with. Between 2008 and 2012, Singapore accounted for four percent of all global weapons imports, making it the fifth-largest importer of military hardware, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The country now spends 25 percent of its annual budget on defence. Its military spending has risen from $600m annually at the start of the 1980s to $12bn in 2013. By comparison, neighbouring Malaysia - whose population is more than five times bigger than that of Singapore - spent just $5bn last year.

"I think Singapore's position on security has been consistent for the past 45 years," said Tim Huxley, author of Defending the Lion City , considered by many to be the definitive work on Singapore's defence establishment.

The modern state of Singapore was born in 1965, when it separated from the Federation of Malaya. Its independence came in the midst of the Cold War, as the US war in Vietnam was intensifying.

"Singapore had always been aware of its position as a Chinese enclave in a Muslim-concentrated Malay archipelago," wrote Pak Shun Ng, a military officer in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Pak said insecurities stemming from Singapore's acrimonious separation from Malaysia in 1965 and the subsequent konfrontasi or confrontation with Indonesia caused Singapore to adopt a fiercely independent military and foreign policy.

"The attitude in Singapore is that although the country has security partners, it does not have any allies," said Huxley. "Singapore has to rely on itself for its own defence."

From 'poisonous shrimp' to porcupine

"In a world where the big fish eat small fish and the small fish eat shrimps, Singapore must become a poisonous shrimp," said Lee Kuan Yew, the father of modern-day Singapore. Lee was echoing concerns that in case of a conflict, tiny Singapore would be overrun and thus had to adopt a defensive posture.

"Singapore has no territory to fall back on and to regroup its military in," said Wendell Minnick, the editor of Taiwan-based Defense News. "Over time Singapore has realised that the defence of its territory needs to be a 'pre-emptive equation' rather than a defensive one, much like Israel."

This realisation has transformed Singapore's defence policy from the "poisonous shrimp" philosophy of self-preservation to something more aggressive.

"I may not completely destroy you, but you'd have to pay a high price to subdue me, and you may still not succeed," said Brigadier General (and now Prime Minister) Lee Hsien Loong in 1984. The 1980s saw Singapore shift from a "poisonous shrimp" to a "porcupine" strategy, which aims to inflict intolerable costs on potential enemies and outlast attackers in the event of a conflict.

"By assuming a more offensive posture, Singapore changed its message from one of 'we'll be here, don't come to us' to one of 'we'll take you on'," wrote Pak Shun Ng, the military officer.

Singapore's military acquisitions in the 1980s were based primarily on imports of advanced systems from the US.

Where East and West collide

Although an estimated 74 percent percent of Singapore's population is of Chinese origin, the country has preferred to do business with US defence contractors instead of with Chinese firms.

"They have a lot of American fighter jet capability, mostly third-generation F-16s and F-15s but also Apache helicopters and US-made drones," said Minnick.

"We are likely to see Singapore invest in equipment such as the US Joint Strike Fighter, commonly known as the F-35 . The country will invest in high-tech equipment which can be networked, which will not require large numbers of personnel to operate it," said Huxley, given Singapore's limited manpower.

"Singapore's military modernisation trajectory must be viewed in the context of deepening territorial disputes and potential crises over selected islands in the South China Sea and the East China Sea," argues Michael Raska, a research fellow at the Military Transformations Programme at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Raska told Al Jazeera that Singapore may face a tough balancing act if China intensifies its demands over the disputed islands.

"Singapore has good relations with both China and the US, the two major powers in the region," said Huxley. The balance between East and West puts Singapore in an awkward position. Singapore is politically and militarily oriented towards the US, said Huxley, but increasingly relies on China economically.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-small-s...46.html#smLPAtc

SG uni to introduce comparative Religious studies

axis13 — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 19:36:06 +0800

since University Malaya is the best uni in the world, should we introduce this kind of thing in Msia uni??

Yale-NUS College announces Yap Kim Hao Professorship in Comparative Religious Studies

24 March 2014

Singapore’s first liberal arts college aims to enhance the academic study of multiple religious beliefs, practices and experiences in today’s world

With a $2 million gift from an anonymous donor, Yale-NUS College establishes the Yap Kim Hao Professorship in Comparative Religious Studies, aimed at enhancing the academic study of religions at the College. Focusing on the multiple religious beliefs, practices and experiences in today’s world, the study of Comparative Religious Studies is a crucial component of the global curriculum for the 21st century.

Students at Yale-NUS College go through an interdisciplinary inquiry-based curriculum where they not only master a body of knowledge and techniques, but also learn to ask the right questions from a global perspective. During the mid-semester break in October 2013, some students spent a week out of the classroom exploring the diverse practices and perspectives of religious practitioners in multi-religious Singapore, guided by an anthropologist and a historian from the College.

“We hope to be able to attract an international-level scholar who can guide our students to an appreciation of the range of religious practices, and the importance of understanding them in the modern age,” said Professor Charles Bailyn, Yale-NUS’ Dean of Faculty. “Singapore is a particularly interesting environment to explore these questions, given the wide range of religious groups and practices that co-exist here.”

A Yale-NUS College committee comprising key leaders and faculty members will select the inaugural holder of the Yap Kim Hao Professorship in Comparative Religious Studies, the third named professorship at the College. In April 2013, Professor Scott Cook and Professor Jay Garfield were named respectively as the inaugural Tan Chin Tuan Professor of Chinese Studies and Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Humanities.

The new professorship is named after Reverend Doctor Yap Kim Hao, former Vice-President of the Inter-Religious Organization (Singapore) which has been actively promoting inter-faith dialogue and understanding in Singapore since 1949. Rev Dr Yap is also the Convenor of Singapore Interfaith Network on AIDS, Chairman of Chen Su Lan Trust, and Pastoral Advisor of Free Community Church, Singapore. The first Asian bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaysia, Rev Dr Yap has retired from full-time Christian ministry but continues to advocate the universal need to respect religious diversity, engage in dialogue and work together with people of diverse backgrounds. For his undergraduate education, Rev Dr Yap attended Baker University in Kansas, United States where he received a well-rounded education in the disciplines of science, social science and the humanities. Rev Dr Yap holds Master of Divinity and Doctor of Theology degrees from Boston University and received its Distinguished Alumni Award in 1988.

“The issue of religion is increasingly important and a study of comparative religion is absolutely necessary to reduce religious conflicts and promote religious harmony. A Professor of Comparative Religious Studies is a breakthrough in tertiary education and augurs well for our common future.” the 85-year-old shared. “I am convinced that the liberal arts education is important for the 21st Century with the increased flow of information that one has to encounter and seek to understand and interpret for the good of our common future.”

PS: Singapore is made up of 33% Buddhist, 17% Muslim, 16% Christian, 15% No religion, 10% Taoist, 5% Hindu

http://www.yale-nus.edu.sg/newsroom/yale-n...igious-studies/
https://www.facebook.com/yalenuscollege

Woman sent to hospital after bus overturns at NUS

axis13 — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 18:05:42 +0800

SG reli like to employ China driver isit?

Woman sent to hospital after bus overturns on hill at NUS

Stomper FruitMonster saw this bus that had fallen down a hill outside the Sports and Recreation Centre at the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus today at around 1130am.

Traffic Police officers were guiding people away from the scene, according to the Stomper.

She says:

"The road on top of the hill, which the bus might have been traveling on before it fell, is a roundabout.

"The emergency exit door seemed to have been pushed open, perhaps by the driver.

"A huge crowd had gathered at the scene but the Traffic Police were guiding them away.

"I was shocked when I saw the bus.

"This is very dangerous especially when there are many students around."

A spokesperson for the SCDF said:

“The SCDF was alerted to the incident at 9 am.

“It involved an overturned bus along Kent Ridge Crescent.

“SCDF dispatched one ambulance and conveyed a woman in her 40s to NUH."

A spokesperson for the Police said:

“Police received a call today at about 9.05 am requesting for assistance along Kent Ridge Crescent.

“Upon police arrival, it was established that an accident involving a minibus had occurred at the said location.

“A female passenger was conveyed conscious to NUH.

“Police investigations are ongoing."

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singapor...-on-hill-at-nus

Can angmoh drink like this in Malaysia?

axis13 — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:41:53 +0800

can spot the difference? Watchu guys think??

Indian workers drink beer = dangerous, cause havoc, hooligans

Rich angmohs/PRCs drinking = OK!!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=777...elevant_count=1

Liberal Christian: "God say its OK to pose naked"

axis13 — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:29:51 +0800

I know this is old news but why when some people from organize religion want to do maksiat always have 1001 excuses one arh?

Heidi Montag Explains Why Posing For Playboy Didn’t Compromise Her Christian Beliefs

REALITY TV star Heidi Montag has defended her choice to pose for Playboy, saying why she did not bare all and how the shoot did not compromise her Christian beliefs.

Remember when Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt declared themselves born-again Christians? Heidi was asked how she was able to justify posing for Playboy without compromising her Christian beliefs.

"For me personally, I feel like God created the body, and the body is
beautiful," she said. "The way God created us was naked. So I am not
ashamed of it. I’m proud of it… This was such a blessed experience."

I get it. Does that explanation make sense for you?

Heidi also teased that she may not be done posing for Playboy, either, which is why she kept a little bit of herself covered.

"Always leave them asking for more," she said on Ryan Seacrest‘s KIIS-FM radio show Tuesday. "Next time, I’ll have more to reveal."

Asked if she has a two- or three-part Playboy deal, she coyly replied, "Maybe."

"I’m more of a modern Mother Teresa. I would take things with moderation. I think God created the body. I think we’re born naked. We die naked. I don’t think it’s something to be ashamed of. I think the body is a beautiful piece of artwork that God created. I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/heidi...6-1225764091627
http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2009/08/18/he...igious-beliefs/

18sx harom kiss kiss (drills!)

axis13 — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:18:42 +0800

Censored, The Economist says negotiating with Malaysia for release

An Indian magazine vendor arranges a censored issue of the Economist magazine at a road-side stall in New Delhi on May 24, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — The Economist is negotiating with Malaysian authorities over “censorship issues” which have delayed the circulation of the British weekly’s latest issue, a spokesman for the publication said today.

The latest edition of the magazine, which features several controversial articles on Malaysia, was seized by Malaysian Customs, causing a delay in distribution.

“There is a particular controversial content in the weekly. We are facing some censorship issues but negotiations are going on,” the spokesman told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.

The spokesman declined to reveal more about the problematic content.

Only the print edition has been affected due to the “sensitive content,” according to an email the weekly sent subscribers.

Those with full digital access will be able to read the edition in full, the email added.

A Home Ministry representative confirmed that the magazine was being held back but gave no reasons.

“We have done our part and given our views. Our responsibility is to check on all imported content,” said Hashimah Nik Jaafar, the ministry’s Publication and Quranic Texts Control Division secretary, when contacted today.

She declined to comment on the status of the negotiations with The Economist.

News portal fz.com reported that the weekly was held back over a photograph of a gay couple kissing which accompanied an article titled “Cures for homosexuality” in its section on China.

Other articles in its latest Asia edition include an overview of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s second sodomy conviction, Malaysia’s worryingly high ranking on The Economist’s crony-capitalism index and the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The Court of Appeal’s ruling on March 7 to overturn Anwar’s acquittal by the High Court in 2012 and theories behind the missing Beijing-bound plane were printed in the Asia section of the weekly, which is distributed in over 190 countries.

Malaysia’s third position after Hong Kong and Russia in the magazine’s crony-capitalism index, which measured the wealth of billionaires earned through rent-seeking sectors, appeared in the weekly’s international news section.

The London-based news magazine has upset Malaysian authorities in the past, leading to several articles censored or blotted out for being perceived as detrimental to the country’s image.

Between January 2009 and August 2010 Malaysia censored 11 issues of the weekly.

In 2011, parts of an article describing Putrajaya’s handling of the rights group Bersih’s popular rally in July that year as overzealous, were blacked out by local distributors.

In 2009, the weekly’s Christmas issue showing Adam and Eve was censored in five countries, including in Malaysia. Authorities covered Eve’s bare breasts.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia...h.NEeKofWP.dpuf

do u guys think Herschel bags are worth it?

axis13 — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 13:04:09 +0800

just wondering guys. i am planning to buy a new bag. do u guys think Herschel bags are worth their price or are they overrated? or should I settle for smthing less pricey but perhaps better material from Yellowstone, Jansport, Manhattan or Crumpler??

Herschel bag

or should I settle for less expensive but better material like this?

Did LKY really say this about Mahathir?

axis13 — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 10:57:10 +0800

i saw this LKY's review of Mahathir book by Tom Plate. do u think its true or was he playing politics with the statement??

Double lives of Iranians in the Islamic republic

axis13 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 20:32:28 +0800

inb4 bersyukurlah malaysia negri sekular

QUOTE

"...It's a different world we live in now. The more you force people to be good Muslims, the more you push them away from Islam" - Mustafa Akyol

The double lives of Iranian youth

Much of Iran’s youth are living a double life today, caught in the middle of a culture clash between the East and the West.

Many middle-class 20-somethings, known for their love of brand-name clothing and status symbols, protested against former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009 after widespread allegations of election fraud. But after a fierce government crackdown, the financially privileged and their so-called Green Movement faded into the margins of political life.

For Iranian-German photojournalist Kaveh Rostamkhani, this is the moment for a deeply personal project to document young Iranians.

“If I did not wear jeans in the streets of Tehran, people would ask me if I was a conservative right-wing supporter,” Rostamkhani said. “I am from this generation of post-revolution youth, so I began to wonder: How would it be if I had not left Iran? How would I be then?”

Spending one month in Iran in both 2012 and 2013, Rostamkhani sought access to the private lives of middle-class Iranian youth. Although resigned to the rules of the Islamic republic and the small loopholes in the system that may allow a group of girls to get away with smoking a water pipe or a couple to mingle in the quiet hills overlooking Tehran, many young people still fear allowing the public into their treasured subculture of rock ‘n’ roll and rowdy parties.

“My goal has been to go into private sphere, so you see so much leisure. It is a totally different set of behaviors than the public life,” Rostamkhani said. “Even the vocabulary that men and women use in their public life is different just to maintain a sense of moral correctness.”

Behind the walls of private complexes, these men and women smoke, drink and dance more as a form of individual expression than an outright collective defiance against conservative authorities. Away from the wary eyes of the morality police, female friends take drags from a cigarette and flirt with male companions. But when it comes to luxury and self-indulgence, this group of Ray-Ban devotees wants the spotlight.

Rostamkhani sought to fade into the background of both these loud and whispered moments so that he may hold not just the trust of his subjects but also their selective ignorance of his camera.

“I would take dozens of pictures until they were bored of me and basically started to ignore me. … The pictures then are quite intimate,” Rostamkhani said. “People are not changing their emotions for the camera, because they have had time to get used to it.”

Not everyone in Iran can afford to trade public piety for private parties where attendees don designer dresses from Paris and Abu Dhabi. Financial freedom also affords people with social media access and the technology needed to circumvent the government’s Internet restrictions.

Rostamkhani’s lens captured some of these “almost rebels” longingly clicking Facebook “likes” to pictures supporting uprisings in Arab countries. But their activism barely goes far beyond this.

“I want to study this part of society and, rather than delivering questions, raise questions about this quest for identity as I call it,” Rostamkhani said. “I want to give a different picture than Academy Award-winning pictures like ‘Argo’ have put in the mind of the foreign public, and ultimately I want to understand it myself.”

Malaysia last time so progressive

axis13 — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 16:19:40 +0800

agree??

Christina Aguilera halal masuk Malaysia?

axis13 — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 11:44:52 +0800

So will PAS protest against Christina Aguilera? too sexy for Malaysia??

Christina Aguilera headlines Twin Towers @Live 2014

KUALA LUMPUR: Popular American singer Christina Aguilera is set to entertain Malaysians at Twin Towers @Live 2014 on March 28 and 29. She has sold more than 43 million albums, achieved four number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won five Grammy Awards.

Organiser Live@Work’s project director Datuk Hafez Mohamad said it will be a first in Malaysia for Aguilera, who will entertain guests on March 28.

http://www.nst.com.my/latest/christina-agu...e-2014-1.484181

Man strip naked on MRT train and performs lewd act

axis13 — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:31:32 +0800

HE CAME IN LIKE A WRECKING BALL ....

Man strips naked on MRT train and performs lewd act

Stomper Scrubfield was on the train near Yishun MRT Station when he saw this man stripping naked and performing an indecent act in front of commuters.

He then lay down on the floor, before being escorted out by SMRT staff after commuters pressed the emergency button.

Stompers Yunru and Ishtar also alerted Stomp to the incident.

Scrubfield said:

"While I was taking the MRT train back home from work, specifically on the red line at Yishun Station, this man started to strip bare naked and started playing with his genitals.

"After finishing, he decided to lie down flat on the floor.

"The staff came and escorted him out shortly after commuters pressed the emergency button."

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singapor...g-down-on-floor

LKY say believing in Bomohs are un-Islamic

axis13 — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 08:02:21 +0800

hardtruths. not i say one hor

[YOUTUBE]vm3sV3m3Us0[/YOUTUBE]

baguslah Mesia sebuah negara liberal + progresif

axis13 — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 13:23:23 +0800

mesia nak jadi macam turkey secular tapi takut nak openly say it for fear of conservative backlash i think

This MMA Fighter Is Asian, Female and Muslim

Has Ann Osman shattered your stereotypes yet?

In the first round of her professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut, Malaysia’s Ann Osman took close to 30 knees to the mid-section from her opponent, Singapore’s Sherilyn Lim.

“You’ve broken her!” Lim’s trainer could be heard shouting, as Lim leaned against the cage of the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

In the second and third rounds, Osman took more devastating knee and head strikes, but responded with knees of her own along with takedowns and crushing ground and pound. Both fighters were unloading whopping lefts and straight rights as the final bell rang. But after 15 minutes of brawling, Lim’s hand was raised in a split decision victory.

ONE Fight Championship’s Total Domination event, held last October, was a disappointment for Osman, but “I definitely gave my best during the fight,” the Malaysian tells TIME.

And despite her defeat, the bout captured the public’s imagination. On Mar. 14, following immense pressure from both fans and media, ONE FC, the largest MMA promotion in Asia, will host a rematch between Lim and Osman — only this time in Osman’s home country.

The fight, which will be broadcast in 28 different countries, will contain several firsts. This will be Osman’s first fight in front of her fellow Malaysians, and it will be the first time a female Muslim fighter has competed on the global stage in a country where the official religion is Islam.

“There’s an empowering element to women in Asia to see a strong, confident, fit female competing on a world scale, on a world stage, especially if you’re Muslim or if you’re from a Muslim country like Malaysia,” says ONE FC CEO Victor Cui.

Not many sports give women similar prestige as their male counterparts, but the growing prominence of female UFC stars such as Ronda Rousey, Liz Carmouche and Misha Tate has almost given MMA that distinction. And with the meteoric rise of MMA in Asia, ever more women are taking up the sport, and breaking fresh ground as they do.

“Having a female fight in a Muslim country like Malaysia is going to be a first,” says Cui. “There’s a huge cultural implication.”

Malaysia may not be Saudi Arabia or Iran, but religious conservatism is increasingly prevalent there. In October, the country’s courts ruled that only Muslims have the legal right to use the word ‘Allah,’ sparking fierce protests from the nation’s Christian minority, who have longed used the same word for God.

Nevertheless, Osman, 27, says she’s has never felt ostracized because of her gender or decision to push boundaries. “I’m fortunate to not have felt any of that pressure about me being Muslim and a female MMA fighter at the same time,” says the Sabah native. “I’m very fortunate to have the support from everyone I know.”

According to Malaysian MMA pioneer Melvin Yeoh, Osman’s acceptance comes from both ONE FC’s assertive marketing in tandem with MMA’s official recognition by the Ministry of Youth and Sport, one of three such sports to have the state’s blessing.

“She’s a Muslim and people saw what she can do and then they thought, this we can also do,” says Yeoh.

While only 10 or so women trained at Yeoh’s fighting camp in Johor Bahru throughout 2013, in the wake of Osman’s October bout, and the hype surrounding the upcoming rematch builds, interest in MMA from female athletes has snowballed. In January alone, he has seen more than 20 women sign up.

According to Cui, it’s emphasizing narratives like Osman’s and playing off historical geopolitical rivalries like the one that exists between Singapore and Malaysia that is essential to MMA sinking deep roots into emerging Asian markets. “It’s Malaysia versus Singapore and those guys have a very, very extremely heated competition,” he says.

When ONE FC started investing in Malaysia in earnest two years ago there were only a handful of MMA gyms. Fast-forward to 2014 and there are now more than 30 operating in the capital Kuala Lumpur. This only adds to the competition between the nations. Singapore currently has around 10 fighting gyms.

“Singapore says they have better fighters, Malaysia says they have better fighters, so it’s a never-ending debate,” explains Yeoh.

But its not just regional rivalry that is stoking anticipation, as these women can actually fight. MMA blog Bloody Elbow nominated the third round of their previous encounter for the site’s “Round of the Year” for 2013.

For Osman, though, there’s only one prize in her sights. “I am definitely taking home the win in front of my hometown crowd,” she says. “First round knockout!”

http://time.com/12066/muslim-female-mma-fighter-ann-osman/

"Chinese are everywhere, even in South Africa"

axis13 — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 11:32:36 +0800

East is everywhere

Yep, there are also Chinese in South Africa. There are Chinese everywhere. I’m just surprised the Curiosity rover hasn’t found us on Mars yet.

The first recorded Chinese came to the country in the year 1660 as prisoners, shipped in by the Dutch: usually debtors from Batavia in the Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta, Indonesia). Larger numbers came in the 1870s to the 1900s to work in the diamond and gold mines. Their presence was not entirely welcome, as the above cartoon shows. Caps were imposed by the Transvaal Immigration Restriction Act of 1902 and the Cape Chinese Exclusion Act of 1904.

Under apartheid, the Chinese community was classified as “Asiatic”, and later “Coloured”. There was a weird situation in the 1970s when Taiwanese investors started moving in, and the South African government was so happy they gave them - and only them - the status of honorary whites.

Now, of course, there’s a wave of immigration from mainland China, working in factories, setting up shops and generally being economically mobile. And utterly adorable, in some cases:

------------------

S Africa Chinese 'become black'

Chinese activists say they also fought against S Africa apartheid

The High Court in South Africa has ruled that Chinese South Africans are to be reclassified as black people.

It made the order so that ethnic Chinese can benefit from government policies aimed at ending white domination in the private sector.

The Chinese Association of South Africa took the government to court, saying its members had been discriminated against.

An estimated 200,000 ethnic Chinese live in South Africa.

The association said their members often failed to qualify for business contracts and job promotions because they were regarded as whites.

The association said Chinese South Africans had faced widespread discrimination during the years of apartheid when they had been classified as people of mixed race.

The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says the Broad-Based Economic Empowerment and the Employment Equity Acts were designed to eradicate the legacy of apartheid which left many black people impoverished.

The laws give people classed as blacks, Indians and coloureds (mixed-race) employment and other economic benefits over other racial groups.

The Black Economic Employment concept was initiated by the governing ANC to help previously disadvantaged individuals - to start their own businesses or become part of existing companies - thus redressing the country's historic inequalities.

Whites still on top

Our correspondent says the ruling provides clarity for corporations in South Africa on the rights of their Chinese staff - who were declared "coloured" under apartheid but are generally regarded as white today.

An example cited in court papers includes an oil company that disqualified Chinese citizens from getting a slice of its biggest empowerment transaction to date.

The company says the group is not catered for in the Black Economic Empowerment codes.

Another example includes a Chinese national who was refused an opportunity to buy shares from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange two years ago.

None of the three government departments cited as respondents in the court case opposed the application.

A study released last month revealed that white South Africans still earn around 450% more than their black counterparts, 14 years after the end of apartheid.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7461099.stm
http://eastiseverywhere.tumblr.com/post/78...ese-paul-pry-uk