One Down, More To Go...

Okay, Marcus Evans' interview done and over. And Winnie, the officer who interviewed me asked to call her back at 4pm today to confirm whether I'm qualified for the second interview. My presentation didn't go that well, although she did praise me for the efforts I put in. I got a rating of 6.5 out of 10, which is a B-. Oh well, I did my best, and if I failed, I'll just apply again. I don't think I want to work with another company. Other than Marcus Evans.

Dani had tagged me, but I think I'll do the tag after my return. Have to finish my clearance first. See you guys soon.

EDIT

I qualified for the second session. ROUND 2, START!

Raja Petra summoned to Dang Wangi 11.00am today

Raja Petra Kamarudin has been summoned to the Dang Wangi Police Station, Jalan Stadium, at 11.00am today (25 July 2007) for his statement to be recorded with regards to the police report made by the Umno Information Chief. It is believed a second police report has also been made with regards to the article Raja Petra wrote called ‘See you in hell Muhamad son of Muhamad’.

Hmmm... Bloggers! ASSEMBLE, AND FORM MAGNA-BLOGGER!!

Wish me ALL THE BEST

3 days, 5 interviews. Reminds me a lot of my varsity years. The exam period, to be exact, where the unlucky gets double exam on a day. Wait, I've heard that some got triple exams on a day...

27th July:

8.30am - Marcus Evans: Sales Executive
2.30pm - Recruit Express: Admin Assistant


30th July:

11.00am - Pacific Powerhouse: Business Development Trainee
2.00pm - JTM: Trainee Manager

31st July:
10.45am - Creative-KT: Fresh Graduate Business Development Trainee

I expect to leave for JB on 1st August. For the position with Marcus Evans, I need to do a presentation. A sales presentation. On such a short notice... Oh well, time to put my rusty brain to the test. Anyway, I need a lot of prayers from you guys. Hopefully one of the position is meant for me...

A Secular State or an Islamic State?

Written by Chandra Muzaffar
Monday, 23 July 2007

Malaysia is not a secular state within the conventional use of the term. Neither is it an Islamic state in the classical sense.

It is not a secular state since the Malaysian state formulates policies and organizes activities from the building of mosques and the administration of the Hajj, on the one hand, to the establishment of Islamic schools and the dissemination of Islamic awareness through public broadcasting channels, on the other, which demonstrate that it is actively involved in sustaining and strengthening the position of Islam in society. Judicial pronouncements and political utterances from the past which suggest that Malaysia is a secular state do not in any way negate the fact that the state has functioned in a non-secular mode, especially in the last three decades.

Nonetheless, for the majority of contemporary Muslim jurists, Malaysia is not an Islamic state since its constitution does not state that governance is based upon the Qur’an and Sunnah (the way of the Prophet Muhammad). Neither is shari’ah the supreme law of the land. Hudud (the Islamic criminal code) is not in force anywhere in Malaysia. These are legal and political attributes of state which are found in almost all those countries that are acknowledged as ‘Islamic’.

More than the actual situation prevalent in Malaysia, there are perceptions of what a ‘secular state’ is, and what an ‘Islamic state’ will be, which have shaped the outlooks of both Muslims and non-Muslims in the country. For a lot of Muslims, the term ‘secular’ connotes antipathy towards, or worse, rejection of, religion in the life of the nation. Since Islam encompasses all aspects of life, including government and politics, the idea of a ‘secular state’ has become anathema to them. Similarly, for many non-Muslims, an ‘Islamic state’ conjures up a frightening vision of Malay dominance reinforced by religious dogmatism. These perceptions – even if they are misconceived – carry tremendous weight and impact directly upon inter-ethnic ties.

This is why it is unwise to insist that Malaysia is a secular state or an Islamic state. There is no need to do this. It will only widen the chasm between the communities. It will exacerbate ethnic tensions.

Why is it necessary to categorize Malaysia as a secular state or an Islamic state when the character of the Malaysian state, its guiding principles and goals, and its vision of the future, have already been spelt out with such lucidity and clarity in the three fundamental documents that were meant to be our signposts in the last 50 years? The most important of these --- the Malaysian Constitution--- embodies a dozen or so basic principles which tell us what this nation is. In a nutshell Malaysia means;-

1. A parliamentary form of government based upon the concept of one person, one vote.
2. A federal system of governance.
3. A constitutional monarchy.
4. The supremacy of the rule of law.
5. An independent judiciary.
6. Protection of fundamental liberties.
7. Malay as the national and official language.
8. The right to use and study other languages.
9. Islam as the religion of the Federation.
10. Recognition of the right of non-Muslims to practise their religions.
11. The special position of the Malays and other indigenous peoples.
12. The legitimate interests of the other communities.

These principles enunciated in 1957 when we achieved Merdeka were reiterated in one form or other in the Rukunegara, the nation’s charter, in August 1970. It is significant that the first of the five principles of the Rukunegara is Belief in God. Young Malaysians recite this and the other four principles in school every morning but what is not emphasized at all are the five goals of the Rukunegara--- the goals of a united, just, democratic, liberal and progressive nation. Twenty-one years after the Rukunegara, its principles and goals were further elaborated in the nine strategic challenges of Vision 2020 which include the creation of a moral and ethical society.

If we reflected upon the Malaysian Constitution, the Rukunegara and Vision 2020, it would appear that they represent a trajectory in the evolution of the nation’s identity and character. It is as if the three documents embody the steady maturation of the Malaysian state and society.

It is important to emphasize at the same time that most of the principles and goals articulated by the three documents do not in any way contradict the universal values of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Indeed, in certain respects, they seek to give meaning to some of the eternal concerns of the religion about justice, accountability and ethical conduct. Likewise, those who subscribe to a secular vision of society which is not antagonistic to the Divine, would applaud the fact that the Constitution, the Rukunegara and Vision 2020 uphold such principles and goals. In other words, when we go beyond labels such as ‘secular’ and ‘Islamic’ and connect with the substance of our three principal documents we will discover that there is a degree of congruence between the two positions.

This is why as we observe the fiftieth year of our Merdeka, we should reiterate our trust and confidence in the three documents that speak to the spirit of the Malaysian people and their shared destiny. To embroil ourselves in the unending controversy about whether we are a secular state or an Islamic state is to forfeit our future.

A Case of a Pot Calling a Kettle Black?

Yesterday, one of the bloggers whom I respect, the loudest, bravest, and most resourceful, got a police report lodged against him by UMNO (or so the person who lodged the report claimed to be acting on behalf).

Umno lodges police report against Malaysia Today

By IZATUN SHARI

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has lodged a police report against Malaysia Today for carrying a series of comments and remarks that it deemed as insulting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, degrading Islam and inciting hatred and violence in Malaysia's multi-racial society.

Party information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib lodged the report at 12.57pm at Tun H.S. Lee police station here Monday.

He said the comments and remarks, consisting of criminal elements and inciting religious and racial sentiments which could affect the country’s security, were carried by the blog on July 11.

The report was lodged under Section 121 (B) and Section 123 of the Penal Code, Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 263 and Section 266 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

"I think they are very irresponsible," he told reporters at the police station. (And so were you.)

And here's the reply and refutation and revelation by that blogger:

See you in hell Muhamad son of Muhamad

Raja Petra Kamarudin



It seems there is a certain ex-Menteri Besar who made a police report against Malaysia Today and me. This ex-Menteri Besar who has two Muhamads is his name does not have even half the qualities of Prophet Muhamad S.A.W. let alone twice the qualities although he carries two Muhamads in his name.

This is the Muhamad who started life as a schoolteacher but does not speak a word of English. When caught carrying millions of dirty money into Australia, he pleaded ignorance of the English language and was acquitted by the Australian court the crime of smuggling money. What many people failed to realise is that when he resigned as a schoolteacher to contest the general election, the government made a claim of RM80,000 against him because he was on contract and was bound by this contract to serve the government to pay off what he owed.

You see, Malaysia has this unique system of giving underprivileged Malays government loans to further their studies. They must, however, serve the government for a certain period of time once they graduate and if they refuse to do so or resign before the expiry of their contract then they have to pay back the government the amount of their loan. This ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name therefore owed the government RM80,000 and if he did not pay back the amount then he would be denying other Malays the benefit of this money and therefore would in that same process be denying other Malays the benefit of a tertiary education.

This ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name then appealed to the then Minister of Education, Anwar Ibrahim, for exemption from paying back the government the RM80,000 that he owed and Anwar, being the smart politician that he was (or maybe still is, I am not sure of that), waived the rule so that this ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name need not pay back the nation the RM80,000 that he owed and which could have gone to other less-fortunate Malays who needed government assistance to further their studies.

What boggles the mind is how this ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name could suddenly have millions in his pocket and which he was arrested for as he entered Australia when just barely a few years before that he could not even pay back the government the RM80,000 that he owed and needed Anwar Ibrahim to exempt him from the rule of paying back the money.

This ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name has made a police report against Malaysia Today and me saying that I insulted the Agong and Islam and that I raised racial sentiments which could probably result in racial conflicts in Malaysia. He was of course acting on behalf of Umno and represented Umno as its Information Chief.

It is mind-boggling that this ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name would accuse me of insulting the Agong who is also the Sultan of Terengganu when the Agong is my buddy. When the Agong, who is also the Sultan of Terengganu, was merely the Raja Muda of Terengganu, I used to ride horses with him along the beach in Kuala Terengganu. I also made trips to London to meet the Agong who is also the Sultan of Terengganu when he was still just the Raja Muda of Terengganu and a student in London.

The then Raja Muda of Terengganu who is now the Agong and I would drive around London in his Ferrari and together with my sisters and wife would visit the famous London night-spots such as Longfellows where all the action is. When he was back in Kuala Lumpur I would take him to the then famous Tin Mine where we would just sit and talk as he was not a disco-dancer but preferred to just enjoy the music and talk.

Would I insult my long-time friend who is now the Agong when I sembah and kiss his hand and he would withdraw it and refuse to allow me to kiss his hand as he considered me a buddy rather than a subject? This, the ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name did not realise when he made that police report against Malaysia Today and me.

I will offer to make an audience (mengadap) with the Agong who was my buddy since the days he was merely the Raja Muda of Terengganu and if His Royal Highness is of the opinion that I have insulted him then I will subject myself to any form of punishment befitting a subject who has insulted his Agong. Such a punishment befitting the crime of insulting the Agong can include the death sentence and I will walk to the gallows to have my head separated from my body with the dignity of a true subject of the Agong. An Anak Raja Bugis is loyal to his Agong and a true Anak Raja Bugis looks death in the face with the dignity expected of an Anak Raja Bugis. I am not a descendant of Upu Tenribong Daeng Rilaka in vain and I shall not smear the name of my ancestors by avoiding the punishment of insulting his Agong. The Agong is one of the Raja-Raja Melayu and I am more than just an Anak Raja Melayu; I am an Anak Raja Bugis.

This ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name accuses me of insulting the Agong when he himself insulted the late Agong who was the Sultan of Selangor and my uncle. This ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name eloped with the Sultan’s daughter who is also my cousin and secretly married her in Thailand.

When the late Agong and Sultan of Selangor, my uncle, asked this ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name whether he (the ex-Menteri Besar with the two Muhamads in his name) had married his (the late Agong and Sultan of Selangor) daughter, this ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name denied it. Marrying secretly in Thailand is a crime and one can be punished for it. Furthermore, marrying a woman without the consent of her father goes against Islam and Malay culture and, being a Menteri Besar, this is even more of a no-no. After all, a Menteri Besar is not a man-on-the-street but the head of government of a state. But this ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name denied he had married the Sultan’s daughter secretly in Thailand and swore in the name of Allah that the allegation is a lie.

Eventually, this ex-Menteri Besar with the two Muhamads in his name divorced the Sultan of Selangor’s daughter, my cousin, and paid her RM12 million as a divorce settlement. This upset the late Agong and Sultan of Selangor, my uncle, who made a photocopy of the RM12 million cheque. The late Agong and Sultan of Selangor, my uncle, was not upset that his Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name had divorced his daughter, my cousin. He did not mind this. The late Agong and Sultan of Selangor was upset that his Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name had paid his daughter RM12 million as a divorce settlement. The late Agong and Sultan of Selangor then made a photocopy of the cheque and showed it to the Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and demanded to know how a mere Menteri Besar could afford to pay RM12 million as a divorce settlement to his daughter, my cousin. This proves that Selangor has a corrupt Menteri Besar, said the late Agong and Sultan of Selangor, my uncle.

And this is the ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name who made a police report against Malaysia Today and me. This ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name is corrupt, a liar who married the late Agong’s and Sultan of Selangor’s daughter and denied it, and who insulted the Malays and Islam by secretly marrying someone’s daughter in another country without the permission of her father.

But this man is not a mere man-on-the-street. This man was then a Menteri Besar. And this man had two Muhamads in his name. And the woman is not a mere woman-on-the-street. This woman is the daughter of the late Agong and Sultan of Selangor. So this crime of the ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name is ten times worse. And any other man would have been arrested and convicted of the crime of marrying a woman secretly in Thailand. But this ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name was not arrested and put on trial. He was also not arrested and put on trial when he paid RM12 million as a divorce settlement and could not explain where he got the money from and how he could afford to pay such an amount on his meagre Menteri Besar’s salary.

I understand that this ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name can’t speak English. This is what the Australian court said and this is why the court acquitted him of the crime of smuggling dirty money into Australia. This means he also can’t read English. How this ex-Menteri Besar with two Muhamads in his name managed to figure out that I insulted the Agong in my article is beyond me when I write in English and not in Malay. Umno should have chosen another man who can speak English to make that police report against Malaysia Today and me.

Many people from the media phoned me today to ask me my comments on the police report against Malaysia Today and me. Well, this is my response to that police report against Malaysia Today and me. I would just like to say: go to hell Muhamad the son of Muhamad. You are a disgrace to the Muhamad name. And let me tell you Muhamad the son of Muhamad: you should thank your lucky stars that this is 2007 and not 1907. If this was 1907 instead of 2007 I would challenge you to a duel. It would be a man-to-man, one-to-one duel. It would be a duel to the death with kerises.

But no, I don’t think you would accept my challenge to a duel with kerises. You may have two Muhamads in your name but you have no class. You eloped with the late Agong’s and Sultan of Selangor’s daughter and secretly married her in Thailand. Then you denied it when the late Agong and Sultan of Selangor asked you about it. Only someone with no balls would do this. A man with balls would not deny it. So there is no way you would accept my challenge to a duel with kerises.

I know that when the late Agong and Sultan of Selangor, my uncle, found out that you had in fact married his daughter, my cousin, and that you had lied about it, you arranged for Umno Youth to organise an anti-Sultan demonstration. The late Agong and Sultan of Selangor was very hurt and he cancelled his birthday celebration that year. So that year no datukships were awarded and you had to return the money to all those who had paid you for their datukships.

This act of yours, Muhamad the son of Muhamad, is treasonous. If this was 1907 instead of 2007 you would have been put to death. And you accuse me of insulting the Agong? You committed treason. You can send me to jail if you wish. You would have been put to death if this was 1907 instead of 2007.

But I know why you made that police report against Malaysia Today and me, Muhamad the son of Muhamad. You want to make a political comeback. You want to contest a parliament seat in the next general election. And you want to be made a federal minister when you win that parliament seat. You hope that the present Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak, will fall and that you can take his job. That is why you made that police report against Malaysia Today and me, Muhamad the son of Muhamad.

Muhamad the son of Muhamad, see you in hell. And if I go there first I will wait at the gates of hell to greet you on your arrival, Muhamad the son of Muhamad. Ini Anak Raja Bugis bercakap yang mati dengan keris di dalam tangan.

Nice one, Raja Petra. Spoken like a true Anak Raja Bugis you are. Now, will they cancel the report, or go ahead with it?

UPDATE
I checked Raja Petra's blog, for the 11th July post that is "consisting of criminal elements and inciting religious and racial sentiments which could affect the country’s security". I found none of that. Well, if the report is made to the author of the blog, we should look at the main articles, right? Comments and remarks may be made by people who wish to degrade the author. And if they say that the report is being made because they PERCEIVED the articles, comments and remarks are seditious in nature, it'll be a case of their perception versus other people's perception, which is a useless case to be debated upon.

A Ray of Hope?

This week will be a bit of a busy week. Got 3 interviews to attend. Well, 4 actually, if they allow my session to be postponed to a later date.

Agensi Pekerjaan Recruit Express Sdn Bhd, Position: Admin Assistant
Date and Time: Jul 27 2007 3:00PM
Venue: Suite 23A.03 Level 23A,
Menara Standard Chartered,
30 Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 -, Kuala Lumpur

Creative-KT Group Sdn Bhd, Position: Fresh Graduate Business Development Executive
Date and Time: 30th or 31st July 2007 11.15am
Venue: B-2-15,
Megan Avenue II,
Jalan Yap Kwan Seng,
50450 Kuala Lumpur

EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - TRAINEE MANAGER position, Jack Tan Marketing Sdn Bhd
Date : 30th July 2007(Monday)
Time : 2.30pm - 4.30pm
Venue : Suites 12.03,Level 12th Unit 3
Wisma Goldhill
67,Jalan Raja Chulan
50200 Kuala Lumpur.

Well, I'll be in KL from 25th July until 1st August. Now, where do I stay...

Comedy of errors in subtitling

KUALA LUMPUR: Anticipating a suspenseful evening in front of the big screen, ardent fans of the latest thriller waited for the “murderer in an ice hockey mask” to start slashing and killing partying teenagers.

However, some 15 minutes into the movie, there were sniggers among the audience, which later erupted into guffaws.

The reason?

“Serial killer” was subtitled as “pembunuh bijirin” (cereal killer) in Bahasa Malaysia.

In another cops-and-robbers movie shown on TV, during a shootout scene, “fire” was subtitled “api”. And when a man kissed his daughter and told her, “Goodnight, cutie pie”, the subtitles read, “Selamat malam, kuih manis.”

Such scenarios have placed translators of subtitles in a bad light.

However, according to Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Dr Hasuria Che Omar, audiovisual translation in the country has improved in recent times.

“It was quite bad many years ago due to factors like hiring untrained and inexperienced subtitlists. Some of the subtitlists did not really understand and had no knowledge in the target language,” said Dr Hasuria, the Human Sciences Studies head for Bahasa Malaysia and Interpretation Programme.

There were also phrases in the figurative form and these had posed problems, as they could not be translated directly, she said.

Dr Hasuria said this was where the subtitlist’s experience and skills came into play, to relay the right message to the audience.

She commended RTM and TV3 for bringing about improvements in the field of subtitling.

“They may have trained in-house staff or hired those who are really qualified to translate.”

However, the quality of subtitles on the big screen has yet to reach the desired stage, said Dr Hasuria, who authored Penterjemahan Audiovisual Televisyen (Audiovisual Television Translation).

She said that apart from making the TV programmes “more interesting”, subtitling also improved the language skills of viewers.

Translating was not an easy task, she said, and not everyone could provide good translation, despite knowing more than one language.

“Good subtitling is supported by, among others, the subtitlist's intellectual level, skills, general knowledge and familiarity with other cultures,” she said.

To boost the quality of subtitles translation in the country, TV stations, post-production firms, film producers, distributors and advertising and communication firms should play the role of language protectors, she said.

This would maintain their credibility.

However, there were TV stations which hired unqualified translators and the results were usually disastrous, she said.

She said there were also calls for professionals to be involved in the translation of subtitles, especially in relation to technical terms, and added that degree holders and those with a high education should also join the industry.

Dr Hasuria, who is also course programme director of the Malaysian Translators Association, said the association was willing to offer short-term courses and workshops on subtitles translation to TV stations and other companies.

Among the courses already being held were translating and editing subtitles, she said.

She said Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka had also offered incentives and prizes for television subtitlists. – Bernama

Hmm... A job opportunity for me? Can anyone tell me how to apply?

Quotes for Success

DISCIPLINE

"Your philosophy determines whether you will go for the disciplines or continue the errors." -- Jim Rohn

"Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability." -- Roy L. Smith

"The only competition you will ever have is the competition between your disciplined and undisciplined mind." -- James A. Ray

"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work." -- Stephen King

DO IT NOW!

"... focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it." -- Greg Anderson

"Now is the only time there is. Make your now wow, your minutes miracles, and your days pay. Your life will have been magnificently lived and invested, and when you die you will have made a difference." -- Mark Victor Hansen

"Stop rationalizing, stop stewing. Get up out of your chair and start doing." -- Denis Waitley

"It's a strange thing, you have said it thousands of times I am sure… you will never know what you can do until you try. However the sad truth is, that most people never try anything until they know they can do it." -- Bob Proctor

DREAM BIG DREAMS

"Live your best life. Dream big. Live fully." -- Oprah Winfrey

"…when you have a sense of your own identity and a vision of where you want to go in your life, you then have the basis for reaching out to the world and going after your dreams for a better life." -- Stedman Graham

"Live out of your imagination, not your history." -- Stephen Covey

"Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate accomplishments." -- Napoleon Hill

I'll See It When I Believe It!

I'll See It When I Believe It! by Tony Alessandra

It has been estimated that we each have upwards of 50,000 thoughts per day. How many of yours are negative? Sometimes you have to do a mental spring-cleaning to get rid of those negative thoughts that have become ingrained attitudes. Stopping self-destructive thoughts is like stopping any other bad habit - it takes time and effort.

Among the most effective ways to do this are visualization and affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements about yourself that you repeat over and over in your head until they are programmed into your subconscious.

Visualization is mentally picturing yourself the way you want to be. You've heard the old saying "I'll believe it when I see it". Well, the reverse is also true: "I'll see it when I believe it!" Affirmations and visualizations may not feel true at first. They may not even be true! However, they can become so.

Consider what happens when you tell yourself repeatedly, "I'm lousy at remembering names." There will never be any improvement there. Therefore, if you catch yourself saying it, stop and immediately say to yourself, "I'm good at remembering names."

Consider the effect of telling yourself, "I'm feeling pretty good today." Or "I can lose ten pounds." Or "I am good at getting people to see things my way." Anything you say to yourself repeatedly will actually influence your reality.

Writing down your affirmations and putting them in some handy place - above your desk, on your bathroom mirror, on the dashboard of your car - will help keep them in mind as well as in sight. Use affirmations and visualizations to project what success will feel like and look like. Imagine, in as much detail as you possibly can, how you feel as the boss singles you out for exceeding your quota, or how the audience hangs on your every word during your speech, or how your confident presence causes heads to turn everywhere you go.

To enhance your charisma and persuasion (while making others feel good about themselves), you can apply the very same techniques by turning them outward. Begin thinking positive affirmations about people you work and live with.

For example, "Bob seems much calmer and patient of late. I wonder what has changed in him." During your next interaction with Bob, you will most likely remember your positive thought about him and start your conversation with, "Bob, I've noticed a change in you. You seem really kind and patient while counseling your new employees recently and I admire that. How did you acquire this wonderful characteristic?"

Bob would likely respond with a smile and a story about a book he found, a consultant he hired, or a seminar he attended. Regardless of his reply, you have sincerely complimented another person, put out a positive thought, and begun a new habit of approaching others using "appreciative inquiry"... finding the good in another person or situation first, instead of finding fault or flaws.

Criticizing is easy and sometimes becomes habit, but re-training your mind to find the positive attributes in yourself and others will win you friends, increase your income, and make you feel better about being a better you.

Here's to more personal insight,
Tony Alessandra

Now you can easily understand in a matter of hours what took Tony Alessandra thirty years to research, refine, and now reveal to you. This week Tony has generously offered his complete package of MP3 downloadables, eBooks, workbooks and e-reports at an amazing discount to our subscribers only! Buy individually or SAVE a bundle on the whole package (includes 31 products). For descriptions of each product visit http://alessandra.yoursuccessstore.com or call 877-929-0439.

Act to Create It

Reproduced with permission from author
Act to Create It

by Jack Canfield, America's Success Coach

If you want to live your dreams, not only must you decide what you want, turn your dream into measurable goals, break those goals down into specific action steps, and visualize and affirm your desired outcomes — you must start taking action.

I recommend making the commitment to do something every day in at least three different areas of your life that moves you in the direction of your dreams.

If one of your goals is physical fitness, make a commitment to do some sort of exercise — aerobics, weight training, stretching — four to five times a week for a minimum of twenty minutes.

I read recently that if you simply go for a 30 minute walk four times a week, that would put you in the top 1% of those people getting physical exercise!

If your goal is financial independence, start saving and investing a portion of your income every month with no exceptions.

If your goal is to write a book, write for a minimum of one hour every day.

DON'T LET FEAR STOP YOU
Most people never get what they want because they let their fears stop them. They are afraid of making a mistake, looking foolish, getting ripped off, being rejected, being hurt, wasting their time, and feeling uncomfortable.

Fear is self-created by imagining catastrophic consequences that have yet to happen. It is all in your mind. In fact, you can actually scare yourself by imagining negative and harmful images. But simply stop the catastrophic thoughts and images, and the fear goes away.

REJECTION IS A MYTH
One of the biggest fears that stops people from asking for support, guidance, advice, money, a date, a job, the sale, or anything else is the fear of rejection. In fact, it’s been known to literally paralyze people. They become tongue-tied and refuse to reach for the phone or get up and walk across the room. They break out in a sweat at the mere thought of asking for what they want.

I have come to realize that the whole concept of rejection is false — that rejection doesn’t really exist. Think about it for a moment. If you asked someone to join you for dinner, and they said no, you could tell yourself that you had been rejected. But think about it. Did you have anyone to eat dinner with before you asked them? No! Did you have anyone to eat dinner with after you asked them? No! Did your life really get worse? No. It stayed the same!

ACT AS IF
One of the secrets of success is to start acting like a success before you are one. Act as if. If you had already achieved your dream, what kinds of clothes would you be wearing? How would you act? How would you treat others? Would you tithe a portion of your income to your church or favorite charities? Would you have more self-confidence? Would you take more time to spend with your loved ones?

I suggest that you begin to do those things now.

When I decided that I wanted to be an “international” consultant, I immediately went and applied for a passport, bought an international clock that told me what time it was anywhere in the world, printed business cards with the words “International Self-Esteem and Peak Performance Consultant,” and decided I would like to first go to Australia. I bought a poster of the Sydney Opera House and placed it on my refrigerator.

Within one month, I received an invitation to speak in Sydney and Brisbane. Since then, I have spoken and conducted trainings in over 20 countries and continue to expand my business around the globe.

Start acting as if you already have everything you want. Most people think that if they have a lot of money, they could do the things they want to do, and they would be much happier. In fact, the reverse is true. If you start by creating a state of happiness and abundance, then do the things you are inspired to do from that state of being, you will end up having all the things you ultimately desire.

You may not be able to fill your closets with expensive Italian suits and designer clothing, but why not invest in one or two really great outfits, so that when you do need them, they are there. When you dress like you have already made it, you will look the part, and successful people will naturally be attracted to you and invite you to participate with them.

The Law of Attraction states that you will attract to you those things that match your state of being. If you focus on having gratitude for what you do have, you will feel rich, and you will attract more abundance into your life. If you focus on what you don't have, you will send out a message of lack and you will attract more lack into your life.

For more on The Law of Attraction, I recommend reading and watching The Secret, a ground-breaking, feature-length movie presentation and bestselling book.

© 2007 Jack Canfield

Stay Focus Focused on Your Core Genius

Reproduced with permission from author

Success Principle #39
Stay Focused on Your Core Genius

I believe you have inside you a core genius... some one thing that you love to do, and do so well, that you hardly feel like doing anything else. It’s effortless for you and a whole lot of fun. And if you could make money doing it, you’d make it your lifetime’s work.

In most cases, your Core Genius is directly tied to your passions and life-purpose.

Successful people believe this, too. That's why they put their core genius first. They focus on it—and delegate everything else to other people on their team.

For me, my core genius lies in the area of teaching, training, coaching and motivating. I love to do it! I do it well, and people report that they get great value from it.

Another core genius is writing and compiling books. Along with my co-author Mark Victor Hansen and others, I have written, co-authored, compiled and edited more than 100 books.

Compare that to the other people in the world who go through life doing everything, even those tasks they’re bad at or that could be done more cheaply, better, and faster by someone else. They can’t find the time to focus on their core genius because they fail to delegate even the most menial of tasks.

When you delegate the grunt work—the things you hate doing or those tasks that are so painful, you end up putting them off—you get to concentrate on what you love to do. You free up your time so that you can be more productive. And you get to enjoy life more.

So why is delegating routine tasks and unwanted projects
so difficult for most people?

Surprisingly, most people are afraid of looking wasteful or being judged as being above everyone else. They are afraid to give up control or reluctant to spend the money to pay for help. Deep down, most people simply don't want to let go.

Others (potentially you) have simply fallen into the habit of doing everything themselves. "It's too time-consuming to explain it to someone," you say. "I can do it more quickly and better myself anyway." But can you?

Delegate Completely

One of the strategies I use and teach is complete delegation. It simply means that you delegate a task once and completely - rather than delegating it each time it needs to be done.

Ladies, you'll LOVE this one...

When my niece came to stay with us one year while she attended the local community college, we made a complete delegation - the grocery shopping. We told her she could have unlimited use of our van if she would buy the groceries every week. We provided her with a list of staples that we always want in the house (eggs, butter, milk, ketchup, and so on), and her job was to check every week and replace anything that was running low.

In addition, my wife planned meals and let her know which items she wanted for the main courses (fish, chicken, broccoli, avocados, and so on). The task was delegated once and saved us hundreds of hours that year that could be devoted to writing, exercise, family time, and recreation.

Most entrepreneurs spend less than 30% of their time focusing on their core genius and unique abilities.

In fact, by the time they've launched a business, it often seems entrepreneurs are doing everything but the one thing they went into business for in the first place.

Many salespeople, for example, spend more time on account administration than they do on the phone or in the field making sales, when they could hire a part-time administrator (or share the cost with another salesperson) to do this time-consuming detail work. In most cases, in a fraction of the time it would take them and at a fraction of the cost.

Most female executives spend too much time running their household, when they could easily and inexpensively delegate this task to a cleaning service or part-time mother's helper, freeing them to focus on their career or spend more quality time with their family.

Don't let this be your fate.

Identify your core genius, then delegate completely to free up more time to focus on what you love to do.

I believe that you can trade, barter, pay for and find volunteer help to do almost everything you don't want to do, leaving you to do what you are best at - and which will ultimately make you the most money and bring you the most happiness.

© 2007 Jack Canfield

The Most Valuable Question You May Ever Ask

Reproduced with permission from author

The Most Valuable Question You May Ever Ask

by Jack Canfield

As you begin to take action toward the fulfillment of your goals and dreams, you must realize that not every action will be perfect.

Not every action will produce the desired result. Not every action will work.

Making mistakes, getting it almost right, and experimenting to see what happens are all part of the process of eventually getting it right.

Thomas Edison is reported to have tried over 2,000 different experiments that failed before he finally got the light bulb to work. He once told a reporter that, from his perspective, he had never failed at all. Inventing the light bulb was just a 2,000-step process. If you can adopt that attitude, then you can be free to take an action, notice what result you get, and then adjust your next actions based on the feedback you have received.

Ready, Fire, Aim!
Don’t be afraid to just jump in and get started moving toward your goals. As long as you pay attention to the feedback you receive, you will make progress. Just getting into the game and firing allows you to correct and refine your aim.

The Most Valuable Question You May Ever Learn
In the 1980s, a multimillionaire businessman taught me a question that radically changed the quality of my life. So what is this magical question that can improve the quality of every relationship you are in, every product you produce, every service you deliver, every meeting you conduct, every class you teach and every transaction you enter into?

Here it is:

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the quality
of our relationship during the last week?”

Here are a number of variations on the same question that have served me well over the years...

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate…

• our service?	• my teaching?
• our product?	• this class/seminar/workshop?
• this meeting?	• our date/vacation?
• our performance?	• this meal?
• my coaching/managing?	• this book/recording/show?
• my parenting/babysitting?

Any answer less than a 10 always gets this follow-up question:

“What would it take to make it a 10?”

This is where the *really* valuable information comes from. Knowing that a person is dissatisfied is not enough. Knowing in detail what will satisfy them gives you the information you need to do whatever it takes to create a winning product, service or relationship.

There Are Two Kinds of Feedback
There are two kinds of feedback you might encounter – negative and positive. We tend to prefer the positive – that is, results, money, praise, promotion, raise, awards, happiness, inner-peace, etc. It feels betters. It tells us we are on course and doing the right thing.

We tend not to like negative feedback – lack of results, little or no money, criticism, poor evaluations, complaints, unhappiness, inner conflict, pain, etc.

However, there is as much useful data in negative feedback as there is in positive feedback. It tells us that we are off course, headed in the wrong direction, doing the wrong thing. This is priceless information!

In fact, it’s so valuable that one of the most useful projects you could undertake is to change how you respond to negative feedback. I like to refer to negative feedback as information for “improvement opportunities.” Here is a place where I can get better.

Ask Yourself for Feedback
In addition to asking others for feedback, you need to ask yourself for feedback, too. More than any other source of feedback, your body will tell you whether or not you are on course or not. When you are relaxed and happy, your body is telling you that you are on track. When you are constantly exhausted, tense, in pain, unhappy and angry, then you are off track.

Take time to listen to what your body is saying to you. Take time to listen to your physical sensations and your feelings. They are sending you important messages. Are you listening?

Remember, Feedback Is Simply Information
You don’t have to take it personally. Just welcome it and use it.

For more on Using Feedback to Your Advantage, review Principle #19 in The Success Principles. It’s one of the most important principles you can apply.

© 2007 Jack Canfield

You Got To Be Smarter Than This

If you are an employer, and one of your employees was accused for embezzlement, would you suspend his position until he's clear of the accusation, or would you let him work regardless?

If you are a parent, and the private tutor you hired last month was suspected of molesting his female students, would you still ask him to come and teach your daughter before he is cleared of all charges?

Now read this:

Zakaria can continue as rep

By ROSLINA MOHAMAD

roslina@thestar.com.my

PEKAN: Port Klang state assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Md Deros, who is facing 39 charges under the Companies’ Act with five other people, can continue serving his constituents until the court makes its decision.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said everyone should wait for the outcome of the legal proceedings before jumping to conclusions.

“This is the problem with Malaysians. They love to jump to conclusions.

“It is not right. We should wait and see the outcome of the legal proceedings first. For the time being, he can continue with his duties as a state assemblyman,” he told reporters after opening the Pekan Wanita Umno delegates’ meeting here yesterday.

Dr Mohamad Khir also said he was expecting a report from the state Umno secretary.

Zakaria and the five directors of Harvest Court Industries Bhd and Titi Steel Sdn Bhd were supposed to be charged on Friday but all failed to turn up in court.

The companies were being taken to court by the Companies Commission for four offences, namely failure to notify change of address, failure to hold an annual general meeting, failure to submit financial statements and failure to submit profit-and-loss accounts.

Dr Mohamad Khir also said Umno leaders and members must not be apologetic when dealing with matters involving the National Economic Policy (NEP) and Malay rights.

“What is wrong if there are more Malays in the civil service and armed forces especially if they are able to perform. Let them continue with their work.

“However, there are those who will make up excuses when posed with questions related to the NEP and Malay rights,” he added.

Dr Mohamad Khir, who is a party supreme council member, said the party’s lifeline was based on two things – religion and race – because its struggles had always been on upholding Islam and safeguarding the rights of Malays.

Earlier in his speech, he said it would weaken the party if members and leaders were being too apologetic about Islam and Malay rights.

Malaysians, you got to be smarter than them. So make the right choice. Choose the right person.

On Your Mark, Get Set, WRITE!!~~

By Sharon Bakar:

Getting Started

I very much enjoyed Lydia's post about how she got started as a writer and thought I'd respond. I did try to leave a comment over there, but it somehow disappeared into the ether. And anyway I'd rather like to run with the ball!

I can't remember a time when I didn't want to write. At school I had this great running rivalry with my best friend Helen to see which of us could write the best composition for English classes. I ignored all other homework completely to put aside time to write because my poem or story had to be the best. We both wrote well above and beyond the call of duty, pages and pages where one or two would have sufficed. Helen always got a slightly higher grade though (and is now a published poet).

I still have my English exercise books (below) filled with my scribblings. My writing was frequently melodramatic and wonderfully florid! And always full of spelling errors. (Mild dyslexia?) It's pretty embarrassing to read them now.

I also started a diary in 1969 and kept it right up to the time I got married in 1990. (Too much honest writing left lying around probably wasn't a very good idea ... particularly as a diary is always a space for a good sound off! Keeping an online password protected journal was a substitute later on.)

But I digress.

I got my first poems published at 13 in the Coventry Evening Telegraph and my first boyfriend, a gardener called Francis, was one of my fans ... although on the two occasions we actually met up for a date, I was so much taller than him that I walked in the gutter while he walked on the pavement!

Although I'd always told myself one day I'd love to write. I didn't start writing seriously until I was in my 40's. I guess that's a good point at which to evaluate your life since it hits you that the sand is slipping through the hour glass (speeding up, even) and if you don't do the things you want to do now, you're probably never gonna.

But there was always the fear - would I measure up or end up disappointing myself in an area that meant so much to me? My favourite writers like Annie Proulx wagged their fingers at me saying "You'll never measure up." Spoilsports!

I also didn't know how to "get into" writing.

So when I saw an ad for a correspondence course with The Open College for the Arts, I decided to give it a go. I found the materials they sent very useful, and the tutor I was assigned to gave me excellent feedback. But I didn't finish the course because:

First of all, I lost my nerve several units in when there was a big jump from simple exercises involving description to suddenly writing a complete short story. (How the hell do I think up a plot, I thought, in the days before I realised that plots can just happen onto paper if you let them.) Looking back, I think the course was aimed at more experienced writers.

Secondly, because this was in the days before the internet had really taken off (and OCA was a particularly slow adopter!), each assignment had to be mailed to the UK (with an international reply coupon inside it for the postage), and then there was a long wait for it to come back to me. My tutor felt so far away!

Thirdly, only my tutor saw my assignment and (afraid to show my efforts to those close to me)
I had no chance to see how other readers reacted to it. I felt so lonely!

Much more helpful to me was a book I found in a bookshop in London: Writing for Self-Discovery: A Personal Guide to Creative Writing by Myra Schneider and John Killick which is a fantastic collection of exercises for exploring the material from your own life and experience. (The book appears to be currently out of print, but you can buy it from Abebooks for as little as US$1.)

I went crazy, filling notebook after notebook with recollection and thoughts and fiction and dreams. I never knew I had so much inside that wanted to break free.

There were many other useful books, and I should say more about these, but this one was my catalyst, my turning point.

I signed up with Writers Village which offers a whole range of short courses for one very reasonable joining fee and found friends and support. The course material is online, and the work posted to a bulletin board and feedback given by your coursemates rather than a tutor. The atmosphere was supportive and friendly, I made some writing buddies across the world (Most of the participants are from the US.) and the first two short stories I had published grew from assignments I posted there.

I also did a creative writing course organised by author Chuah Guat Eng at Silverfish. This was the first time I'd written with others and my - what a heady experience it turned out to be - with moments of real magic when we read back our pieces. Much much better than scribbling away lonely and alone!

But the teacher/trainer in me said ... hey ho, I want to encourage others to write and think I can do this better ... and that's why and how my own course for beginners was born. (And it sounds as if Lydia is thinking along these lines too ... good for her!)

I've just finished one run of it at the British Council and hope that the next will be in November, when I finish the project I'm currently involved with and have had a chance to rediscover my Mat Salleh roots in the UK for a few weeks.

There are lots of threads here I might pick up on another day.

But like Lydia I'd love to know, what got YOU writing?

--------------------------------------
Sharon Bakar
Location: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, MY

British but have lived in Malaysia for more than 20 years and very much at home here. I write on books for a number of publications and teach creative writing.

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

By Lydia Teh:

Writing Courses

Every now and then I get emails asking about the writing course I took. I just received another one this week. I’m going to blog about this so that in future, I could just direct the questioner here.

In 1995 I enrolled in a correspondence course from The Writing School, then based in Singapore. The last I heard, it has moved its operation to Australia. It seems they’re also operating in Canada. Then I paid RM1,500 for the 20-lesson course. Today the fees has ballooned.

They send you one lesson and assignment at a time. After you’ve completed it, you mail it back and wait for the next lesson and assignment.

When I took this course, the internet hasn’t exploded in a big way. Today there’s an ocean of writing know-how you can glean from the internet and writing books. What I benefitted most from the course wasn’t the materials provided. It was the training that was invaluable : forcing myself to sit down and complete a writing assignment. And I did sell some of the pieces I wrote for the school. In fact, I broke into print in the NST with an article about my grandfather. I later rewrote the story for my book, Life’s Like That - Scenes from Malaysian Life.The hefty fees also paid a part in kicking the butt. After spending a small fortune on it, the least I could do for myself was to complete the course and make it pay for itself.

Are there writing courses run here? As far as I know, Sharon Bakar runs an 8-week course (classes are held once a week for two hours per session). I’ve attended the sessions held at the British Council. It was great fun to write in a group. If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend Sharon’s course in ‘Getting started - finding the flow.’ She’s a great teacher, very encouraging and personable. Course fees is between RM350 to RM400.

95% also run some writing courses periodically. David Byck, author of It’s a Long Way to the Floor attended this. Fees is quite substantial though.

When Beth Yahp is back in Malaysia, she conducts writing workshops like this one. Her next workshop will be held on 18 and 25 August 2007. It costs RM450 (RM350 for students and unemployed).

If you don’t want to spend the money, you can check out these free mini courses run by BBC.

Whichever route you take, at the end of the day, you still have to sit down and write. That’s the only way you can get your work out. And don’t forget to read. A writer has to read in order to improve.

Having said that, if you have the money and time to spare, go enrol in a writing course. It’s not just the learning that’s fun, it’s the mingling with like-minded people. I’ve attended several workshops and seminars and don’t mind going for more, if not for my other half who keeps insisting, “It’s time for you to stop attending courses. You should be conducting them already.”

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

A desperately writing housewife with one husband, four kids (from 6 to 17) and a couple of sparrows trying to nest in her house.

Author of three books:

1. Congratulations! You have won - A guidebook on how to maximize your chances of winning competitions - Malita Jaya, 2001

2. Life’s Like That - Scenes from Malaysian Life - Pelanduk Publications, 2004

3. Honk If You’re Malaysian - MPH Publishing, Jan 2007

Her articles have been published in magazines, newspapers and websites. She’s a columnist with Yellow Post, a weekly newspaper and she writes the occasional Word’s Up, Eh Poh Nim column in The Star’s Mind Our English page. She was named a Best Teleworking Mom by Nestle and e-homemakers.net in 2004.

Location : Klang, Malaysia

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

So, LET'S ROCK AND WRITE!!~~~

Nat Tan's Statement on His Detention (Eng & BM)

Posted on July 19th, 2007 by nathaniel tan

Four Days Under the OSA

I was arrested on Friday, the 13th of July at approximately 4.30pm in the carpark basement (B3) of Phileo Damansara I by about four to five policemen.

While originally being taken in for questioning, the police arrested me when I conveyed to them my lawyers advice that I should not accompany the police to their office unaccompanied by legal counsel.

From Phileo Damansara, I was taken to my house where the police confiscated my computer, some CD’s and some documents.

From the moment I was arrested until about 11 pm, I was not allowed to speak to anyone I knew, or inform anybody of my whereabouts.

I later learnt that this caused an immense and completely avoidable amount of stress and anxiety amongst my loved ones.

I was eventually made to understand that I was arrested in connection to accusations made on the internet regarding Datuk Johari Baharum.

The connection to me was based on a comment made on my blog that was made by an anonymous commentor on the 10th of Februrary, 2007.

It was prepostorous of the police to suspect me of publishing these accusations based on documents protected by the Official Secrets Act that were supposedly in my posessesion. There is absolutely nothing even remotely resembling proof to substantiate such claims.

Throughout my detention, the police employed various questioning strategies in what struck me strongly as a concerted attempt to make me admit to things that I had not done.

The police also subjected me to various rounds of questioning between about 5.30pm and 9pm by different police officers who all kept asking me the same questions. I later learnt that questioning at such late hours was in fact illegal.

One of the officers questioning me that evening who refused to identify himself threatened to slap me and throw me across the room.

Not having access to legal counsel, I refused to answer in detail any questions the police posed in their extremely suspicious manner.

The situation worsened on Saturday, the 14th of July.

Despite my repeated appeals to the police officers accompanying me to court to be produced before the magistrate for the remand hearing, they absolutely refused to notify my family or, more importantly, my lawyers that I was to be produced in court.

This caused in me a great deal of undue stress because I feared that I would be forced to face the magistrate without any legal representation.

Entirely by a stroke of luck, a lawyer at the magistrate’s court was able to assist me in contacting my lawyer, R Sivarasa. Had said lawyer not been present, I may have not been given the opportunity to be represented by counsel during my hearing, and my remand order may have been for fourteen days instead of for four.

Even after my lawyer arrived, the police made every possible effort to block me from consulting with my lawyers, denying me extremely basic human rights connected to judicial due process. This even included repeatedly trying to spy and eavsdrop on the conversations I was attempting to have with my lawyers.

After the remand order was allowed, the police continued to pursue the same line of questioning.

Having being advised by my lawyer during my remand hearing not to answer any questions or sign any statements, I refused to answer the increasingly combative line of questioning by the police.

On Saturday itself, a senior officer employed physical means in an attempt to intimidate me into answering their questions. This included shoving me into a chair while I was standing handcuffed.

Although I had stated my intent to exercise my right to silence, and despite my lawyer’s argument that the police had all the evidence they required to investigate me, the police’s insistence on holding me for all four days proved a complete waste of my time and of police resources. I was also made to endure unhygenic and pitifully substandard accomdations in the lockup throughout this time.

All other attempts to pressure and coerce me into providing information under adverse conditions failed. Finally, on Monday, I was allowed to see my family, who conveyed to me fresh advice from my lawyer regarding what information I could provide.

Armed at last with the knowledge that I had been seeking since Friday, I was more than happy to provide all the information I had available to the police.

The entire ordeal for both myself and the police could have been avoided if the police had extended some basic human courtesy and decency in allowing me to consult fully with legal counsel before cooperating with the police, which I was more than happy to do under fair and reasonable circumstances.

*

I fear greatly that my arrest despite the non-existent ties between the accusations against Datuk Johari and myself portend badly for Malaysia’s abilty to deal with true cyber crime.

The fact that I appear to be the best suspect they could arrest in relation to this case indicates that the police do not understand how the internet works, and are at a complete loss as to how to handle true cyber crime.

In my particular case as well, the government and police appear to be sending a signal that while irresponsible bloggers roam free, responsible bloggers who moderate their comments and put a name to their writing are more likely to end up as targets. This policy could not possibly be more ill formed and counterproductive.

Given certain statements in the press recently, I unfortunately cannot rule out completely that the substandard and rushed nature of this investigation is the result of political meddling and pressure in police affairs.

I am also gravely concerned because as my lawyer pointed out in the remand hearing, arrests should take place at the conclusion of an investigation, and not at the beginning of one. What happened to me is beyond doubt an absolute travesty of this principle.

If the police continue in their attempts to procur information from innocent citizens in bad faith and through questionable means such as by coercing information from individuals isolated from legal counsel and outside support, they will find themselves failing the public in their duty to protect Malaysians from true criminal activity.

*

This entire episode smacks of intimidation. Ongoing and unrelenting intimidation towards social activists, internet writers and opposition supporters.

The ranking officer in the unit investigating me even took the time to ‘advise’ me to emulate the example and career trajectories of individuals like Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. The same officer also warned me to be considerate to my parents as I choose my career paths.

While I appreciate the advice, I wish to reiterate here that the causes I have chosen were chosen with due care and consideration, and after thorough analysis of the state of Malaysia’s social and political climate. I love my parents very much, and hate the fact that this episode has caused them such unhappiness. However, my responsibility is also to my future children, and the Malaysia they will inherit.

Any assumptions that my experience will dissuade other activists and citizens of conscience from exerting all our energies in upholding their responsibilities to their parents, their children, and to all of Malaysia are sadly, sadly misplaced.

My time with the police taught me that all the efforts by political parties and civil society to curb the excesses of the police and the government have proven extremely effective.

The police were extremely concerned that they might be portrayed in a bad light after my release, and took a number of steps to ensure that they did not do things that they knew would be taken up and publicised by activists. I am thus extremely grateful for the efforts of those that have fought before me to make Malaysia a more just and secure place for its citizens.

It is impossible to endure an experience such as mine without having one’s fears and discomfort increased, even in one’s own homeland.

The true mark of human strength however is the manner in which we deal with these fears.

I have chosen not to let my fears overcome me, and as a member of KeADILan and other activist groups, I have instead chosen to draw inspiration from those who have walked these paths before me and continue refusing to spare any effort whatsoever in our ongoing endeavours to uphold justice for all throughout the homeland we love.

*

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest, most sincerely heartfelt thanks to every single individual and organisation who voiced their support for me throughout this difficult episode. I know this was especially difficult for all of my family and my girlfriend Soon Li Tsin, but despite their pain, they pulled through in every way imaginable to provide me every strength I needed to overcome.

I am not exaggerating in the least when I say the truly touching support I received carried me through the entire ordeal. To all my guardian angles, once again, thank you truly.

Nathaniel Tan
*

Empat Hari Di Bawah OSA

Saya ditahan pada Jumaat, 13 Julai pada lebih kurang 4.30pm di kawasan tempat letak kereta (B3) Phileo Damansara I oleh 3 - 4 orang polis.

Walaupun asalnya dibawa ke balai untuk disoal, saya ditahan apabila memaklumkan kepada polis bahawa saya dinasihati peguam untuk tidak mengikut polis secara sendiri tanpa peguam.

Dari Phileo Damansara, saya dibawa ke rumah saya di mana polis merampas komputer saya, beberapa CD dan beberapa dokumen.

Dari saat saya ditahan sehingga lebih kurang 11pm, saya tidak dibenarkan untuk bercakap dengan mana-mana kenalan saya, atau maklumkan sesiapapun mengenai lokasi saya.

Perkara ini merupakan suatu pengalaman yang pahit dan menderita bagi keluarga dan kawan-kawan saya.

Saya akhirnya dimaklumkan bahawa saya ditahan berkaitan dengan tuduhan yang dibuat di internet ke atas Datuk Johari Baharum.

Kaitan kes ini kepada saya adalah berdasarkan sebuah komen yang dibuat di blog saya oleh seorang yang identitinya tidak diketahui pada 10 Februari, 2007.

Tidak wajar sama sekali pihak polis mensyaki saya menerbitkan tomahan kepada Datuk Johari berasaskan dokumen rahsia rasmi yang disyaki berada dalam kepunyaan saya. Tiada bukti langsung untuk mengesahkan tuduhan ke atas saya tersebut.

Semasa saya ditahan, polis menggunakan pelbagai strategi dalam menyoal siasat saya yang saya percayai adalah percubaan untuk membuat saya mengakui kepada tindakan-tindakan yang saya tidak pernah buat.

Polis juga soal-siasat saya di antara 5.30pm sehingga 9pm oleh anggota-anggota polis yang berbeza tetapi yang semua bertanya soalan yang sama. Selepas dilepaskan, saya dapat tahu bahawa soal-siasat pada waktu tersebut tidak sah di sisi undang-undang.

Satu daripada pegawai yang menyoal saya malam itu dan enggan memberi namanya mengugut untuk melempar saya dan mencampak saya ke seberang bilik.

Oleh kerana tidak dapat berjumpa dengan peguam, saya enggan menjawab secara terperinci mana-mana soalan polis.

Situasi bertambah teruk pada Sabtu, 14 Julai.

Walaupun saya menyeru beberapa kali kepada polis yang mengiringi saya ke mahkamah reman supaya menghubungi peguam dan keluarga saya untuk maklumkan bahawa saya dibawa ke mahkamah, mereka enggan berbuat sedemikian.

Ini menyebabkan saya terasa amat tertekan kerana saya takut akan menghadapi majistret tanpa peguam.

Saya amat bertuah, kerana seorang peguam di mahkamah menolong saya untuk menghubungi peguam saya, R Sivarasa. Jika peguam tersebut tiada di mahkhamah dan sanggup menghubungi Sivarasa, saya mungkin akan direman untuk 14 hari dan bukan 4.

Selepas peguam saya tiba, polis cuba sedaya upaya untuk menghalang saya dari bercakap kepada peguam saya. Dengan itu, mereka mencabuli hak asasi saya yang berkaitan dengan prosedur keadilan. Ini termasuk cubaan untuk mengintip dan curi-curi dengar kepada perbualan antara saya dengan peguam.

Selepas reman dibenarkan, polis meneruskan penyoalsiasatan terhadap saya.

Oleh kerana saya dinasihati oleh peguam saya supaya tidak menjawab mana-mana soalan atau menandatangani apa-apa, saya enggan menjawab soalan-soalan polis yang semakin bersikap aggresif.

Pada hari Sabtu itu, seorang pegawai atasan bersikap kasar terhadap saya ketika menyoal saya. Ini termasuk menolak saya ke dalam kerusi ketika saya berdiri dan digari.

Oleh kerana saya sudah memaklumkan kehendak saya untuk menggunakan hak saya untuk berdiam diri, keputusan polis untuk menahan saya untuk 4 hari tersebut amat membuangkan masa saya dan tenaga kerja polis. Dalam seluruh waktu ini, saya terpaksa bermalam di lokap dalam keadaan yang teruk dan tidak sihat.

Semua percubaan untuk menekan saya sehingga memberi keterangan gagal. Akhirnya, pada hari Isnin, saya dibenarkan menjumpa keluarga saya, yang memaklumkan kepada saya nasihat baru dari peguam mengenai maklumat yang saya boleh beri kepada polis.

Saya seterusnya dengan ringan hati memberi segala keterangan yang diminta oleh polis.

Segala masalah-masalah yang dialami oleh kedua-dua pihak saya dan polis sebenarnya dapat dielakkan sekiranya polis cukup berhemah untuk membenarkan saya berbincang secara bebas dengan peguam saya sebelum memberi keterangan.

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Saya amat khuatir bahawa penahanan saya, walaupun tiada kaitan langsung dengan tuduhan atas Datuk Johari, menunjukkan bahawa PDRM sebenarnya tiada kepakaran yang mencukupi untuk menangani masalah jenayah siber.

Kerajaan dan polis nampaknya memberi isyarat bahawa penulis di internet yang tidak bertanggungjawab dapat berleluasa secara bebas, manakala penulis di internet yang bertanggungjawab dan menggunakan nama sebenar akan menjadi sasaran. Dasar ini langsung tiada asas yang kukuh dan bersifat kounter produktif.

Memandangkan kenyataan dalam akhbar kebelangkan ini, saya malangnya tidak boleh menafikan kemungkinan bahawa cara penyiasatan ini dijalankan secara huru-hara adalah akibat daripada campurtangan politik dan tekanan terhadap urusan polis.

Saya juga amat risau kerana seperti yang dimaklumkan oleh peguam saya semasa di mahkamah reman, penahanan harus dibuat pada hujung sebuah penyiasatan dan bukan pada mulanya. Apa yang terjadi jelas bercanggah dengan prinsip ini.

Jika polis berterus dalam percubaan mereka untuk mendapat maklumat dari rakyat dengan cara-cara yang amat mencurigakan seperti yang saya alami, mereka akan gagal dalam usaha mereka untuk melindungi rakyat Malaysia dari jenayah.

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Peristiwa ini mengandungi terlalu ramai unsur intimidasi - intimidasi terhadap aktivis, penulis internet dan penyokong pembangkang.

Seorang pegawai tinggi dalam unit yang menyiasati saya pun ‘menasihati’ saya supaya mencontohi individu seperti Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. Pegawai tersebut juga memberi amaran supaya menitikberatkan ibubapa saya apabila memilih kerjaya saya.

Walaupun saya menghargai nasihat tersebut dan amat menyayangi ibubapa saya, saya terpaksa juga menitikberatkan masa depan bakal-bakal anak saya serta Malaysia yang akan saya tinggalkan untuk mereka.

Mana-mana anggapan bahawa pengalaman saya akan menakutkan atau melemahkan semangat rakyat yang berjuang untuk menyempurnakan tanggungjawab mereka kepada ibubapa, anak dan kepada semua Malaysia salah sama sekali.

Masa saya dengan polis telah menunjukkan bahawa segala usaha oleh parti-parti politik dan masyarakat mandani untuk membantah keterlaluan polis dan kerajaan telah membuahkan hasil.

Polis amat prihatin terhadap imej mereka selepas saya dibebaskan, dan mengambil langkah supaya tidak melakukan perkara-perkara yang mereka sedar akan dihebohkan oleh aktivis-aktivis. Oleh itu, saya amat berterima kasih kepada usaha-usaha mereka yang telah berjuang sebelum saya untuk menjadikan Malaysia sebuah negara yang adil dan selamat.

Tidak mungkin seseorang mengalami pengalaman sebegini tanpa merasa lebih takut dan tidak selesa, walaupun di tanahair sendiri.

Walaubagaimanapun, tanda sebenar kekuatan insan adalah cara di mana kita pilih untuk hidup dengan ketakutan tersebut.

Saya telah pilih untuk tidak membenarkan rasa takut saya menguasai saya. Sebaliknya, sebagai ahli KeADILan dan rakyat yang sedar, saya telah pilih untuk mencontohi semua mereka yang telah mendahului saya dalam mengambil perjalanan ini dan berusaha sedaya upaya untuk menegakkan keadilan untuk semua di Malayia yang kita cintai.

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Akhirnya, saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih setinggi-tingginya kepada setiap individu dan organisasi yang menyuarakan sokongan mereka untuk saya dalam waktu yang susah ini. Saya sedar bahawa keluarga saya dan teman wanita saya Soon Li Tsin terutamanya amat menderita pada waktu ini, tetapi walaupun dalam keadaan begitu, mereka berjaya menunjukkan penuh sokongan dan inilah yang memberi kekuatan yang diperlukan saya untuk menghadapi ujian ini.

Sokongan yang betul-betul amat mengharukan ini telah mengangkat saya pada setiap tahap kesusahan ini. Kepada semua malaikat yang menjaga saya, sekali lagi, saya ucapkan ribuan terima kasih.

Nathaniel Tan

To think that we entrusted our safety to them...